diff --git a/lib/libc/regex/regexec.c b/lib/libc/regex/regexec.c
index bf27d05f86c..d7aa46f45b2 100644
--- a/lib/libc/regex/regexec.c
+++ b/lib/libc/regex/regexec.c
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ xmbrtowc_dummy(wint_t *wi,
 }
 
 /* macros for manipulating states, small version */
-#define	states	long
-#define	states1	states		/* for later use in regexec() decision */
+#define	states1	long		/* for later use in regexec() decision */
+#define	states	states1
 #define	CLEAR(v)	((v) = 0)
 #define	SET0(v, n)	((v) &= ~((unsigned long)1 << (n)))
 #define	SET1(v, n)	((v) |= (unsigned long)1 << (n))