diff --git a/lisp/simple.el b/lisp/simple.el
index accc119e2b..7d47aba1ee 100644
--- a/lisp/simple.el
+++ b/lisp/simple.el
@@ -9125,7 +9125,7 @@ next-completion
         (unless (get-text-property (point) 'mouse-face)
           (goto-char (next-single-property-change (point) 'mouse-face nil end)))
         (setq n (1- n)))
-      (while (< n 0)
+      (while (and (< n 0) (< 1 (point)))
         (let ((prop (get-text-property (1- (point)) 'mouse-face)))
           ;; If in a completion, move to the start of it.
           (when (and prop (eq prop (get-text-property (point) 'mouse-face)))