diff --git a/src/document.c b/src/document.c
index e2731da..ee0102f 100644
--- a/src/document.c
+++ b/src/document.c
@@ -1199,8 +1199,10 @@ char_link(hoedown_buffer *ob, hoedown_document *doc, uint8_t *data, size_t offse
 			link_e--;
 
 		/* remove optional angle brackets around the link */
-		if (data[link_b] == '<') link_b++;
-		if (data[link_e - 1] == '>') link_e--;
+		if (data[link_b] == '<' && data[link_e - 1] == '>') {
+			link_b++;
+			link_e--;
+		}
 
 		/* building escaped link and title */
 		if (link_e > link_b) {