diff --git a/src/cmd/sam/regexp.c b/src/cmd/sam/regexp.c
index b213d2f..8beaa03 100644
--- a/src/cmd/sam/regexp.c
+++ b/src/cmd/sam/regexp.c
@@ -527,56 +527,26 @@
 }
 
 /*
- * Add inst to the list [l, l+NLIST), but only if it is not there already.
- * These work lists are stored and processed in increasing
- * order of sep->p[0], so if the inst is there already, the one 
- * there already is a more left match and takes priority.
- * (This works for backward searches too, because there
- * is no explicit comparison.)
+ * Note optimization in addinst:
+ * 	*l must be pending when addinst called; if *l has been looked
+ *		at already, the optimization is a bug.
  */
-Ilist*
-addinst1(Ilist *l, Inst *inst, Rangeset *sep)
-{
-	Ilist *p;
-
-	for(p = l; p->inst; p++)
-		if(p->inst==inst)
-			return 0;
-	
-	if(p == l+NLIST)
-		return l+NLIST;
-	
-	p->inst = inst;
-	p->se = *sep;
-	(p+1)->inst = 0;
-	return p;
-}
-
 int
 addinst(Ilist *l, Inst *inst, Rangeset *sep)
 {
-	Ilist *ap;
-	
-	ap = addinst1(l, inst, sep);
-	if(ap == 0)
-		return 0;
-	if(ap == l+NLIST)
-		return -1;
-	
-	/*
-	 * Added inst to list at ap.
-	 * Expand any ORs right now, so that entire 
-	 * work list ends up being sorted by increasing sep->p[0].
-	 */
-	for(; ap->inst; ap++){
-		if(ap->inst->type == OR){
-			if(addinst1(l, ap->inst->left, &ap->se) == l+NLIST)
-				return -1;
-			if(addinst1(l, ap->inst->right, &ap->se) == l+NLIST)
-				return -1;
+	Ilist *p;
+
+	for(p = l; p->inst; p++){
+		if(p->inst==inst){
+			if((sep)->p[0].p1 < p->se.p[0].p1)
+				p->se= *sep;	/* this would be bug */
+			return 0;	/* It's already there */
 		}
 	}
-	return 0;
+	p->inst = inst;
+	p->se= *sep;
+	(p+1)->inst = 0;
+	return 1;
 }
 
 int
@@ -586,13 +556,13 @@
 	Inst *inst;
 	Ilist *tlp;
 	Posn p = startp;
+	int nnl = 0, ntl;
 	int c;
 	int wrapped = 0;
 	int startchar = startinst->type<OPERATOR? startinst->type : 0;
 
 	list[0][0].inst = list[1][0].inst = 0;
 	sel.p[0].p1 = -1;
-	nl = list[0];
 	/* Execute machine once for each character */
 	for(;;p++){
 	doloop:
@@ -611,18 +581,21 @@
 			default:
 				goto Return;
 			}
-		}else if(((wrapped && p>=startp) || sel.p[0].p1>0) && nl->inst==0)
+		}else if(((wrapped && p>=startp) || sel.p[0].p1>0) && nnl==0)
 			break;
 		/* fast check for first char */
-		if(startchar && nl->inst==0 && c!=startchar)
+		if(startchar && nnl==0 && c!=startchar)
 			continue;
 		tl = list[flag];
 		nl = list[flag^=1];
 		nl->inst = 0;
+		ntl = nnl;
+		nnl = 0;
 		if(sel.p[0].p1<0 && (!wrapped || p<startp || startp==eof)){
 			/* Add first instruction to this list */
 			sempty.p[0].p1 = p;
-			if(addinst(tl, startinst, &sempty) < 0)
+			if(addinst(tl, startinst, &sempty))
+			if(++ntl >= NLIST)
 	Overflow:
 				error(Eoverflow);
 		}
@@ -633,7 +606,8 @@
 			default:	/* regular character */
 				if(inst->type==c){
 	Addinst:
-					if(addinst(nl, inst->next, &tlp->se) < 0)
+					if(addinst(nl, inst->next, &tlp->se))
+					if(++nnl >= NLIST)
 						goto Overflow;
 				}
 				break;
@@ -671,8 +645,13 @@
 					goto Addinst;
 				break;
 			case OR:
-				/* already expanded; just a placeholder */
-				break;
+				/* evaluate right choice later */
+				if(addinst(tl, inst->right, &tlp->se))
+				if(++ntl >= NLIST)
+					goto Overflow;
+				/* efficiency: advance and re-evaluate */
+				inst = inst->left;
+				goto Switchstmt;
 			case END:	/* Match! */
 				tlp->se.p[0].p2 = p;
 				newmatch(&tlp->se);
@@ -702,13 +681,13 @@
 	Inst *inst;
 	Ilist *tlp;
 	Posn p = startp;
+	int nnl = 0, ntl;
 	int c;
 	int wrapped = 0;
 	int startchar = bstartinst->type<OPERATOR? bstartinst->type : 0;
 
 	list[0][0].inst = list[1][0].inst = 0;
 	sel.p[0].p1= -1;
-	nl = list[0];
 	/* Execute machine once for each character, including terminal NUL */
 	for(;;--p){
 	doloop:
@@ -727,18 +706,22 @@
 			default:
 				goto Return;
 			}
-		}else if(((wrapped && p<=startp) || sel.p[0].p1>0) && nl->inst==0)
+		}else if(((wrapped && p<=startp) || sel.p[0].p1>0) && nnl==0)
 			break;
 		/* fast check for first char */
-		if(startchar && nl->inst==0 && c!=startchar)
+		if(startchar && nnl==0 && c!=startchar)
 			continue;
 		tl = list[flag];
 		nl = list[flag^=1];
 		nl->inst = 0;
+		ntl = nnl;
+		nnl = 0;
 		if(sel.p[0].p1<0 && (!wrapped || p>startp)){
 			/* Add first instruction to this list */
-			sempty.p[0].p1 = p;
-			if(addinst(tl, bstartinst, &sempty) < 0)
+			/* the minus is so the optimizations in addinst work */
+			sempty.p[0].p1 = -p;
+			if(addinst(tl, bstartinst, &sempty))
+			if(++ntl >= NLIST)
 	Overflow:
 				error(Eoverflow);
 		}
@@ -749,7 +732,8 @@
 			default:	/* regular character */
 				if(inst->type == c){
 	Addinst:
-					if(addinst(nl, inst->next, &tlp->se) < 0)
+					if(addinst(nl, inst->next, &tlp->se))
+					if(++nnl >= NLIST)
 						goto Overflow;
 				}
 				break;
@@ -787,9 +771,15 @@
 					goto Addinst;
 				break;
 			case OR:
-				/* already expanded; just a placeholder */
-				break;
+				/* evaluate right choice later */
+				if(addinst(tl, inst->right, &tlp->se))
+				if(++ntl >= NLIST)
+					goto Overflow;
+				/* efficiency: advance and re-evaluate */
+				inst = inst->left;
+				goto Switchstmt;
 			case END:	/* Match! */
+				tlp->se.p[0].p1 = -tlp->se.p[0].p1; /* minus sign */
 				tlp->se.p[0].p2 = p;
 				bnewmatch(&tlp->se);
 				break;