diff --git a/lisp/indent.el b/lisp/indent.el
index 89de0a1d7d1..e5f2acdd33b 100644
--- a/lisp/indent.el
+++ b/lisp/indent.el
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ prefix argument is ignored."
     (let ((old-tick (buffer-chars-modified-tick))
           (old-point (point))
 	  (old-indent (current-indentation))
-          (syn (syntax-after (point))))
+          (syn (syntax-class (syntax-after (point)))))
 
       ;; Indent the line.
       (or (not (eq (indent--funcall-widened indent-line-function) 'noindent))