diff --git a/addon/mode/simple.js b/addon/mode/simple.js
index 655f991475..a1c626417a 100644
--- a/addon/mode/simple.js
+++ b/addon/mode/simple.js
@@ -137,10 +137,9 @@
           var token = rule.token
           if (token && token.apply) token = token(matches)
           if (matches.length > 2 && rule.token && typeof rule.token != "string") {
-            state.pending = [];
             for (var j = 2; j < matches.length; j++)
               if (matches[j])
-                state.pending.push({text: matches[j], token: rule.token[j - 1]});
+                (state.pending || (state.pending = [])).push({text: matches[j], token: rule.token[j - 1]});
             stream.backUp(matches[0].length - (matches[1] ? matches[1].length : 0));
             return token[0];
           } else if (token && token.join) {