diff --git a/src/editor/edit.c b/src/editor/edit.c
index 310947095..b88e2943c 100644
--- a/src/editor/edit.c
+++ b/src/editor/edit.c
@@ -2118,6 +2118,7 @@ static void edit_left_char_move_cmd (WEdit * edit)
 {
     int cw = 1;
     if (column_highlighting
+        && option_cursor_beyond_eol
         && edit->mark1 != edit->mark2
         && edit->over_col == 0
         && edit->curs1 == edit_bol(edit, edit->curs1))