diff --git a/vlib/v/fmt/fmt.v b/vlib/v/fmt/fmt.v
index b1142f9adf..25bc5a01c9 100644
--- a/vlib/v/fmt/fmt.v
+++ b/vlib/v/fmt/fmt.v
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ fn (mut f Fmt) adjust_complete_line() {
 	for i, buf in f.expr_bufs {
 		// search for low penalties
 		if i == 0 || f.penalties[i-1] <= 1 {
-			precedence := if i == 0 { 0 } else { f.precedences[i-1] }
+			precedence := if i == 0 { -1 } else { f.precedences[i-1] }
 			mut len_sub_expr := if i == 0 { buf.len + f.line_len } else { buf.len }
 			mut sub_expr_end_idx := f.penalties.len
 			// search for next position with low penalty and same precedence to form subexpression
diff --git a/vlib/v/fmt/tests/expressions_expected.vv b/vlib/v/fmt/tests/expressions_expected.vv
index bf91380f93..16b7073dc6 100644
--- a/vlib/v/fmt/tests/expressions_expected.vv
+++ b/vlib/v/fmt/tests/expressions_expected.vv
@@ -70,3 +70,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) name_expr() {
 		println(p.peek_tok.lit)
 	}
 }
+
+fn set_nr_muls(t table.Type, nr_muls int) table.Type {
+	return int(t) & 0xff00ffff | (nr_muls << 16)
+}
diff --git a/vlib/v/fmt/tests/expressions_input.vv b/vlib/v/fmt/tests/expressions_input.vv
index e20a7ce737..543bdcfb6e 100644
--- a/vlib/v/fmt/tests/expressions_input.vv
+++ b/vlib/v/fmt/tests/expressions_input.vv
@@ -82,3 +82,8 @@ fn (mut p Parser) name_expr() {
 		println(p.peek_tok.lit)
 	}
 }
+
+fn set_nr_muls(t table.Type, nr_muls int) table.Type {
+	return int(t) &
+		0xff00ffff | (nr_muls << 16)
+}