diff --git a/cowpatch.sh b/cowpatch.sh
index 861fef9..c79c9d9 100755
--- a/cowpatch.sh
+++ b/cowpatch.sh
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ done
 cowpatch () {
 
 plev=0
+OPTIND=1
 while getopts ":p:i:RNE" opt ; do
 test "$opt" = p && plev="$OPTARG"
 done