diff --git a/lisp/textmodes/refill.el b/lisp/textmodes/refill.el
index 985604701cf..26e26d6bf6e 100644
--- a/lisp/textmodes/refill.el
+++ b/lisp/textmodes/refill.el
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ This is used to optimize refilling.")
       ;; leading to excessive refilling and wrong choice of fill-prefix.
       ;; might be a bug in my paragraphs.el.
       (forward-paragraph)
+      (skip-syntax-backward "-")
       (let ((end (point))
 	    (beg (progn (backward-paragraph) (point)))
 	    (obeg (overlay-start refill-ignorable-overlay))