diff --git a/autoload/delimitMate.vim b/autoload/delimitMate.vim
index b92617a..c0a5afd 100644
--- a/autoload/delimitMate.vim
+++ b/autoload/delimitMate.vim
@@ -186,6 +186,10 @@ function! delimitMate#IsSpaceExpansion() " {{{
 endfunction " }}} IsSpaceExpansion()
 
 function! delimitMate#WithinEmptyPair() "{{{
+	" if cursor is at column 1 return 0
+	if col('.') == 1
+		return 0
+	endif
 	" get char before the cursor.
 	let char1 = delimitMate#GetCharFromCursor(-1)
 	" get char under the cursor.
diff --git a/test/autoclose_quotes.txt b/test/autoclose_quotes.txt
index 4135c6c..02c002b 100644
--- a/test/autoclose_quotes.txt
+++ b/test/autoclose_quotes.txt
@@ -70,3 +70,4 @@ let g:delimitMate_smart_quotes = '!\s\%#\_.'
 "zyx'x" "zyx'x"
 "zyx 'x" "zyx 'x'"
 unlet g:delimitMate_smart_quotes
+"'\<CR>\<BS>" "''"