--- a/src/rcldb/stemdb.cpp
+++ b/src/rcldb/stemdb.cpp
@@ -57,18 +57,18 @@
     }
 
 #ifndef RCL_INDEX_STRIPCHARS
-    // Expand the unaccented stem
     if (!o_index_stripchars) {
 	string unac;
 	unacmaybefold(term, unac, "UTF-8", UNACOP_UNAC);
-	if (term != unac) {
-	    for (vector<string>::const_iterator it = llangs.begin();
-		 it != llangs.end(); it++) {
-		SynTermTransStem stemmer(*it);
-		XapComputableSynFamMember expander(getdb(), synFamStemUnac, 
-						   *it, &stemmer);
-		(void)expander.synExpand(unac, result);
-	    }
+	// Expand the unaccented stem, using the unaccented stem
+	// db. Because it's a different db, We need to do it even if
+	// the input has no accent (unac == term)
+	for (vector<string>::const_iterator it = llangs.begin();
+	     it != llangs.end(); it++) {
+	    SynTermTransStem stemmer(*it);
+	    XapComputableSynFamMember expander(getdb(), synFamStemUnac, 
+					       *it, &stemmer);
+	    (void)expander.synExpand(unac, result);
 	}
     }
 #endif