/* used by selection: complement pointer position */
 void complement_pos(struct vc_data *vc, int offset)
 {
-       static unsigned short *p;
+       static int old_offset = -1;
        static unsigned short old;
        static unsigned short oldx, oldy;
 
        WARN_CONSOLE_UNLOCKED();
 
-       if (p) {
-               scr_writew(old, p);
+       if (old_offset != -1 && old_offset >= 0 &&
+           old_offset < vc->vc_screenbuf_size) {
+               scr_writew(old, screenpos(vc, old_offset, 1));
                if (DO_UPDATE(vc))
                        vc->vc_sw->con_putc(vc, old, oldy, oldx);
        }
-       if (offset == -1)
-               p = NULL;
-       else {
+
+       old_offset = offset;
+
+       if (offset != -1 && offset >= 0 &&
+           offset < vc->vc_screenbuf_size) {
                unsigned short new;
+               unsigned short *p;
                p = screenpos(vc, offset, 1);
                old = scr_readw(p);
                new = old ^ vc->vc_complement_mask;
                        vc->vc_sw->con_putc(vc, new, oldy, oldx);
                }
        }
+
 }
 
 static void insert_char(struct vc_data *vc, unsigned int nr)