diff --git a/src/protocol/protocol.cpp b/src/protocol/protocol.cpp
index 4df083a..ba3bb8c 100644
--- a/src/protocol/protocol.cpp
+++ b/src/protocol/protocol.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ namespace protocol {
     }
 
     void protocol_t::absorb(const std::string& input) {
-        auto tokens = token::decompose(input, max_pattern_length);
+        auto tokens = token::decompose(input, debug ? -1 : max_pattern_length);
         auto pattern = token::pattern_t(tokens, false);
         debug && cerr << "Received pattern " << pattern << endl;