diff --git a/plugin/makecols.vim b/plugin/makecols.vim
index 40f245b..2ea13d9 100644
--- a/plugin/makecols.vim
+++ b/plugin/makecols.vim
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ function! s:convert_selection_vert()
     "   4   8   12
     let new_string = ""
     let c = 0
-    while c <= cols
+    while c <= g:makecols_cols
         let cols = g:makecols_cols
         let sec = get(old_selection, c, "")
         let i = c