diff --git a/lisp/org.el b/lisp/org.el
index eadcbb000..126acbca3 100755
--- a/lisp/org.el
+++ b/lisp/org.el
@@ -5804,7 +5804,10 @@ prompted for."
   (let (f hl)
     (when (and (re-search-forward (concat org-plain-link-re) limit t)
 	       (not (member 'org-tag
-			    (get-text-property (1- (match-beginning 0)) 'face)))
+			    (get-text-property (cond
+                                                ((= 1 (match-beginning 0)) 1)
+                                                (t (1- (match-beginning 0))))
+                                               'face)))
 	       (not (org-in-src-block-p)))
       (org-remove-flyspell-overlays-in (match-beginning 0) (match-end 0))
       (setq f (get-text-property (match-beginning 0) 'face))