diff --git a/lib/Pegex/Compiler.pm b/lib/Pegex/Compiler.pm
index 6828064..57ab478 100644
--- a/lib/Pegex/Compiler.pm
+++ b/lib/Pegex/Compiler.pm
@@ -111,9 +111,9 @@ sub combinate_re {
     my $regexp = shift;
     my $atoms = Pegex::Grammar::Atoms->atoms;
     $regexp->{'.rgx'} =~ s!~!<ws>!g;
+    my $re = $regexp->{'.rgx'};
+    $re =~ s!~!<ws>!g;
     while (1) {
-        my $re = $regexp->{'.rgx'};
-        $re =~ s!~!<ws>!g;
         $re =~ s[<(\w+)>][
             $self->tree->{$1} and
             $self->tree->{$1}{'.rgx'}