diff --git a/stl/inc/regex b/stl/inc/regex
index adb38897585..d6c17c6dde2 100644
--- a/stl/inc/regex
+++ b/stl/inc/regex
@@ -3407,21 +3407,6 @@ bool _Matcher<_BidIt, _Elem, _RxTraits, _It>::_Better_match() { // check for bet
     unsigned int _Res_valid_count       = 0;
     unsigned int _Tgt_state_valid_count = 0;
 
-    for (unsigned int _Ix = 0; _Ix < _Get_ncap(); ++_Ix) {
-        if (_Res._Grp_valid[_Ix]) {
-            ++_Res_valid_count;
-        }
-
-        if (_Tgt_state._Grp_valid[_Ix]) {
-            ++_Tgt_state_valid_count;
-        }
-    }
-
-    // more captured groups means a better match
-    if (_Tgt_state_valid_count != _Res_valid_count) {
-        return _Tgt_state_valid_count > _Res_valid_count;
-    }
-
     for (unsigned int _Ix = 0; _Ix < _Get_ncap(); ++_Ix) { // check each capture group
         if (_Res._Grp_valid[_Ix] && _Tgt_state._Grp_valid[_Ix]) {
             if (_Res._Grps[_Ix]._Begin != _Tgt_state._Grps[_Ix]._Begin) {
@@ -3433,8 +3418,18 @@ bool _Matcher<_BidIt, _Elem, _RxTraits, _It>::_Better_match() { // check for bet
                 return _STD distance(_Begin, _Res._Grps[_Ix]._End) < _STD distance(_Begin, _Tgt_state._Grps[_Ix]._End);
             }
         }
+
+        if (_Res._Grp_valid[_Ix]) {
+            ++_Res_valid_count;
+        }
+
+        if (_Tgt_state._Grp_valid[_Ix]) {
+            ++_Tgt_state_valid_count;
+        }
     }
-    return false;
+
+    // more captured groups means a better match
+    return _Tgt_state_valid_count > _Res_valid_count;
 }
 
 template <class _BidIt, class _Elem, class _RxTraits, class _It>