diff --git a/src/search.c b/src/search.c
index d52165c3e7474baac5090a44ccc9069d4e112ac7..b331c489a8a6b755f4fe820a915f1830c4a441fd 100644
--- a/src/search.c
+++ b/src/search.c
@@ -1025,12 +1025,12 @@ void do_gotolinecolumn(int line, ssize_t column, bool use_answer, bool
     }
 
     current_x = actual_x(current->data, column - 1);
+    placewewant = column - 1;
 
     /* If save_pos is TRUE, don't change the cursor position when
      * updating the edit window. */
     edit_update(save_pos ? NONE : CENTER);
 
-    placewewant = xplustabs();
     display_main_list();
 }