diff --git a/src/hb-ot-shape-complex-khmer-machine.rl b/src/hb-ot-shape-complex-khmer-machine.rl
index aa70db044..f9790d56b 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-shape-complex-khmer-machine.rl
+++ b/src/hb-ot-shape-complex-khmer-machine.rl
@@ -60,8 +60,7 @@ cn = c.ZWJ?.n?;
 matra_group = z{0,3}.M.N?.Coeng?;
 syllable_tail = (z?.SM.SM?.ZWNJ?)? A{0,3}?;
 halant_group = (z?.Coeng.(ZWJ.N?)?);
-final_halant_group = halant_group | Coeng.ZWNJ;
-halant_or_matra_group = (final_halant_group | (Coeng.ZWJ)? matra_group{0,4}) (Coeng (cn|V))?;
+halant_or_matra_group = (halant_group | (Coeng.ZWJ)? matra_group{0,4}) (Coeng (cn|V))?;
 
 
 consonant_syllable =	(c|V|PLACEHOLDER|DOTTEDCIRCLE).n? (halant_group.cn){0,4} halant_or_matra_group syllable_tail;