diff --git a/mu4e/mu4e-actions.el b/mu4e/mu4e-actions.el
index eab28f58..a8b9f2ba 100644
--- a/mu4e/mu4e-actions.el
+++ b/mu4e/mu4e-actions.el
@@ -206,9 +206,9 @@ store your org-contacts."
 
     (dolist (tag (split-string-and-unquote retag) taglist)
       (cond
-	((string-match "\\<\\+\\(.+\\)" tag)
+	((string-match "^\\+\\(.+\\)" tag)
 	  (setq taglist (push (match-string 1 tag) taglist)))
-	((string-match "\\<\\-\\(.+\\)" tag)
+	((string-match "^\\-\\(.+\\)" tag)
 	  (setq taglist (delete (match-string 1 tag) taglist)))
 	(t
 	  (setq taglist (push tag taglist)))))