diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/src/syntax_highlight.rs b/crates/nu-cli/src/syntax_highlight.rs
index 79a5a82a4a..e578b8c5b4 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/src/syntax_highlight.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/src/syntax_highlight.rs
@@ -268,7 +268,8 @@ fn find_matching_block_end_in_expr(
         };
     }
 
-    if expression.span.contains(global_cursor_offset) {
+    if expression.span.contains(global_cursor_offset) && expression.span.start >= global_span_offset
+    {
         let expr_first = expression.span.start;
         let span_str = &line
             [expression.span.start - global_span_offset..expression.span.end - global_span_offset];