diff --git a/src/pattern.c b/src/pattern.c
index a581e30..125c08e 100644
--- a/src/pattern.c
+++ b/src/pattern.c
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ liblex_result _pattern_build_chain(pattern_chain** into, int* ids, int pattern_i
         result = _pattern_chain_create(&current_chain, NULL, NULL);
         (*index)++;
       }
-    } if(string[*index] == '.') {
+    } else if(string[*index] == '.') {
       pattern_node* new_node = NULL;
       _pattern_chain_append_chain_discard(current_chain, &sub_chain);
       result = _pattern_chain_create(&sub_chain, NULL, NULL);
@@ -438,6 +438,8 @@ liblex_result pattern_compile(pattern* ptrn, char* expression, int id){
     ptrn->size = ids + 1;
     free(full_chain);
   } else {
+    ptrn->head = NULL;
+    ptrn->size = 0;
     if(full_chain){
       _pattern_free(full_chain->head, ids);
     }