diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/nconf.c b/scripts/kconfig/nconf.c
index b7c1ef757178..331b2cc917ec 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/nconf.c
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/nconf.c
@@ -503,8 +503,8 @@ static int get_mext_match(const char *match_str, match_f flag)
 	else if (flag == FIND_NEXT_MATCH_UP)
 		--match_start;
 
+	match_start = (match_start + items_num) % items_num;
 	index = match_start;
-	index = (index + items_num) % items_num;
 	while (true) {
 		char *str = k_menu_items[index].str;
 		if (strcasestr(str, match_str) != NULL)