diff --git a/src/automata.cpp b/src/automata.cpp
index fd1d6d4..86fadaf 100644
--- a/src/automata.cpp
+++ b/src/automata.cpp
@@ -246,7 +246,11 @@ namespace lxs {
                 if (a == d.numStates)
                     a = deadState;
 
-                if (reachables.count(a) == 0 || done.count(a) > 0) continue;
+                if (reachables.count(a) == 0 || done.count(a) > 0) {
+                    if (a == deadState)
+                        break;
+                    continue;
+                }
 
                 newStates[a] = cur;
                 if (a == deadState)