diff --git a/mu4e/mu4e-actions.el b/mu4e/mu4e-actions.el
index 415765a3..eab28f58 100644
--- a/mu4e/mu4e-actions.el
+++ b/mu4e/mu4e-actions.el
@@ -205,9 +205,10 @@ store your org-contacts."
 	  tagstr)
 
     (dolist (tag (split-string-and-unquote retag) taglist)
-      (cond ((string-match "\\+\\(.+\\)" tag)
-	      (setq taglist (push (match-string 1 tag) taglist)))
-	((string-match "\\-\\(.+\\)" tag)
+      (cond
+	((string-match "\\<\\+\\(.+\\)" tag)
+	  (setq taglist (push (match-string 1 tag) taglist)))
+	((string-match "\\<\\-\\(.+\\)" tag)
 	  (setq taglist (delete (match-string 1 tag) taglist)))
 	(t
 	  (setq taglist (push tag taglist)))))