@@ -601,9 +601,9 @@
           (insert style)
           (goto-char beg)
           (insert style))
       (insert style style)))
-  (when (< (point) (mark))
+  (when (or (not (mark)) (< (point) (mark)))
     (forward-char (length style))))
 
 (defun sbbs-compose-format-code ()
   "Insert code syntax markers."