diff --git a/src/libespeak-ng/dictionary.c b/src/libespeak-ng/dictionary.c
index 8624e350..d506f512 100644
--- a/src/libespeak-ng/dictionary.c
+++ b/src/libespeak-ng/dictionary.c
@@ -1650,8 +1650,8 @@ static void MatchRule(Translator *tr, char *word[], char *word_start, int group_
 					letter_group = LetterGroupNo(rule++);
 					if ((n_bytes = IsLetterGroup(tr, post_ptr-1, letter_group, 0)) >= 0) {
 						add_points = (20-distance_right);
-						if (n_bytes >= 0) // move pointer, if group was found
-							post_ptr += (n_bytes-1);
+						// move pointer, if group was found
+						post_ptr += (n_bytes-1);
 					} else
 						failed = 1;
 					break;
@@ -1869,8 +1869,8 @@ static void MatchRule(Translator *tr, char *word[], char *word_start, int group_
 					letter_group = LetterGroupNo(rule++);
 					if ((n_bytes = IsLetterGroup(tr, pre_ptr, letter_group, 1)) >= 0) {
 						add_points = (20-distance_right);
-						if (n_bytes >= 0)  // move pointer, if group was found
-							pre_ptr -= (n_bytes-1);
+						// move pointer, if group was found
+						pre_ptr -= (n_bytes-1);
 					} else
 						failed = 1;
 					break;