diff --git a/grep.c b/grep.c
index 7b2b96a437..f430d7e756 100644
--- a/grep.c
+++ b/grep.c
@@ -403,7 +403,9 @@ static void compile_regexp(struct grep_pat *p, struct grep_opt *opt)
 	p->word_regexp = opt->word_regexp;
 	p->ignore_case = opt->ignore_case;
 
-	if (opt->fixed || is_fixed(p->pattern, p->patternlen))
+	if (opt->fixed)
+		p->fixed = 1;
+	else if (is_fixed(p->pattern, p->patternlen))
 		p->fixed = 1;
 	else
 		p->fixed = 0;