diff --git a/doc/fixes37.0 b/doc/fixes37.0
index 2503a1b22..f7dc5b31b 100644
--- a/doc/fixes37.0
+++ b/doc/fixes37.0
@@ -379,6 +379,7 @@ prevent wish request "death wand" from matching Death monster and producing a
 	random wand instead of a wand of death
 grammar bit: "you hear a [AEF] note squeak in the distance" (should be "an")
 curses interface failed to honor menu_xxx option settings for menu interaction
+during engraving, spaces were counted instead of non-spaces
 
 
 Fixes to 3.7.0-x Problems that Were Exposed Via git Repository
diff --git a/src/engrave.c b/src/engrave.c
index f098b4607..083698c65 100644
--- a/src/engrave.c
+++ b/src/engrave.c
@@ -1143,7 +1143,7 @@ doengrave(void)
     /* Chop engraving down to size if necessary */
     if (len > maxelen) {
         for (sp = ebuf; maxelen && *sp; sp++)
-            if (*sp == ' ')
+            if (!(*sp == ' '))
                 maxelen--;
         if (!maxelen && *sp) {
             *sp = '\0';