diff --git a/strans.c b/strans.c
index 6135023..94b6f9f 100644
--- a/strans.c
+++ b/strans.c
@@ -848,6 +848,8 @@ searchkey(u32int ks, u32int mod, Str *com)
 	if(ks == Kback){
 		if(search.raw.n != 0)
 			spopr(&search.raw);
+		else if(search.back.n != 0)
+			sclear(&search.back);	/* the reach undone, in its turn */
 		else if(search.seed.n != 0)
 			spopr(&search.seed);
 		else{
diff --git a/tests/engine_test.c b/tests/engine_test.c
index c9468dd..3691c7f 100644
--- a/tests/engine_test.c
+++ b/tests/engine_test.c
@@ -2005,6 +2005,21 @@ engine_hanja_reaches_back(struct ct *t)
 		CT_EQ_INT(t, 0, takeback);
 	}
 
+	/* Backspace gives the reach back before it eats what was typed. */
+	surround = mkstr("민");
+	im.pre = mkstr("국");
+	sclear(&com);
+	CT_CHECK(t, keystroke('h', Mctrl, &com));
+	checkstr(t, "the reach joined the reading", "민국", &search.text);
+	CT_CHECK(t, keystroke(Kback, 0, &com));
+	checkstr(t, "the client's syllable goes back first", "국",
+		&search.text);
+	CT_EQ_INT(t, 0, search.back.n);
+	sclear(&com);
+	CT_CHECK(t, keystroke(Kret, 0, &com));
+	checkstr(t, "only what was typed is committed", "국", &com);
+	CT_EQ_INT(t, 0, takeback);
+
 	/* Nothing pending is no reading, and reaches into nothing. */
 	surround = mkstr("민");
 	sclear(&im.pre);