diff --git a/cameo/area.c b/cameo/area.c
index 1b23429..df8382d 100644
--- a/cameo/area.c
+++ b/cameo/area.c
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ static const struct path **subordinates(const struct path *paths,
 	for (a = sub; a != w; a++)
 		for (b = sub; b != w; b++)
 			if (a != b && is_inside(*a, *b)) {
-				*a = *w--;
+				*a = *--w;
 				*w = NULL;
 				a--;
 				break;