diff --git a/php-mode.el b/php-mode.el
index 71eca1a7..1f2ecca4 100644
--- a/php-mode.el
+++ b/php-mode.el
@@ -1518,7 +1518,7 @@ a completion list."
      ("\\<\\(const\\)\\s-+\\(\\_<.+?\\_>\\)" (1 'php-keyword) (2 'php-constant-assign))
 
      ;; Logical operator (!)
-     ("\\(![^=]\\)" 1 'php-logical-op)
+     ("\\(!\\)[^=]" 1 'php-logical-op)
 
      ;; Highlight special variables
      ("\\(\\$\\)\\(this\\)\\>" (1 'php-$this-sigil) (2 'php-$this))