diff --git a/lisp/org-inlinetask.el b/lisp/org-inlinetask.el
index a1e4ef2fc..d5e01fe44 100644
--- a/lisp/org-inlinetask.el
+++ b/lisp/org-inlinetask.el
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ going below `org-inlinetask-min-level'."
 	  (setq beg (point))
 	  (replace-match down-task nil t nil 1)
 	  (org-inlinetask-goto-end)
-	  (if (and (eobp) (looking-back "END\\s-*"))
+	  (if (and (eobp) (looking-back "END\\s-*" (point-at-bol)))
               (beginning-of-line)
             (forward-line -1))
 	  (unless (= (point) beg)
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ If the task has an end part, also demote it."
 	(setq beg (point))
 	(replace-match down-task nil t nil 1)
 	(org-inlinetask-goto-end)
-        (if (and (eobp) (looking-back "END\\s-*"))
+        (if (and (eobp) (looking-back "END\\s-*" (point-at-bol)))
               (beginning-of-line)
             (forward-line -1))
 	(unless (= (point) beg)