diff --git a/sample_files/compare.expected b/sample_files/compare.expected
index 02ee030209..c9b961d241 100644
--- a/sample_files/compare.expected
+++ b/sample_files/compare.expected
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ sample_files/bad_combine_1.rs sample_files/bad_combine_2.rs
 f5051bf7d2b8afa3a677388cbd458891  -
 
 sample_files/big_text_hunk_1.txt sample_files/big_text_hunk_2.txt
-fd0c8912c094097f82c6b29ae66fb912  -
+fc26d41a5ff771670e04033b177973d2  -
 
 sample_files/change_outer_1.el sample_files/change_outer_2.el
 2b9334a4cc72da63bba28eff958f0038  -
diff --git a/src/line_parser.rs b/src/line_parser.rs
index 14c5c219da..dfea571f2b 100644
--- a/src/line_parser.rs
+++ b/src/line_parser.rs
@@ -199,12 +199,14 @@ pub(crate) fn change_positions(lhs_src: &str, rhs_src: &str) -> Vec<MatchedPos>
                 // individual words.
                 if lhs_words.len() > MAX_WORDS_IN_LINE || rhs_words.len() > MAX_WORDS_IN_LINE {
                     for lhs_pos in lhs_lp.from_region(lhs_offset, lhs_offset + lhs_part.len()) {
-                        mps.push(MatchedPos {
-                            kind: MatchKind::NovelWord {
-                                highlight: TokenKind::Atom(AtomKind::Normal),
-                            },
-                            pos: lhs_pos,
-                        });
+                        if lhs_pos.start_col != lhs_pos.end_col {
+                            mps.push(MatchedPos {
+                                kind: MatchKind::NovelWord {
+                                    highlight: TokenKind::Atom(AtomKind::Normal),
+                                },
+                                pos: lhs_pos,
+                            });
+                        }
                     }
 
                     lhs_offset += lhs_part.len();