diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcher.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcher.java
index c10d661736c..4f9fdfc9249 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcher.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcher.java
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ public class AntPathMatcher implements PathMatcher {
 							this.doubleWildcards++;
 							pos += 2;
 						}
-						else if (!this.pattern.substring(pos - 1).equals(".*")) {
+						else if (pos > 0 && !this.pattern.substring(pos - 1).equals(".*")) {
 							this.singleWildcards++;
 							pos++;
 						}
diff --git a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcherTests.java b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcherTests.java
index 7f4f762625d..5516c53c612 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcherTests.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcherTests.java
@@ -479,6 +479,10 @@ public class AntPathMatcherTests {
 
 		// longer is better
 		assertEquals(1, comparator.compare("/hotels", "/hotels2"));
+		
+		//SPR-13139
+		assertEquals(-1, comparator.compare("*", "*/**"));
+		assertEquals(1, comparator.compare("*/**", "*"));
 	}
 
 	@Test