diff --git a/rellm/rellm.py b/rellm/rellm.py
index 8668515..1842495 100644
--- a/rellm/rellm.py
+++ b/rellm/rellm.py
@@ -40,16 +40,22 @@ def complete_re(prompt:str, pattern: regex.Pattern | List[regex.Pattern], tokeni
         )
         new_token_ids = output_ids[0, prompt_length:]
         output_text = tokenizer.decode(new_token_ids, skip_special_tokens=True)
-        partial_completion += output_text
-        prompt_plus_completion = prompt_plus_completion + output_text
+
+        for output_char in output_text:
+            partial_completion += output_char
+            prompt_plus_completion = prompt_plus_completion + output_char
+
+            if stop_after_match:
+                for p in pattern:
+                    m = p.match(partial_completion)
+                    if m and m.start() == 0:
+                        if debug:
+                            print("step={} completion={}".format(gen_tokens, partial_completion))
+                        return m[0]
+
         if debug:
             print("step={} completion={}".format(gen_tokens, partial_completion))
 
-        if stop_after_match:
-            for p in pattern:
-                m = p.match(partial_completion)
-                if m and m.start() == 0:
-                    return m[0]
         gen_tokens += 1
 
     return partial_completion