diff --git a/crates/js/src/regexp_vm.rs b/crates/js/src/regexp_vm.rs
index c0c557ea7..139469422 100644
--- a/crates/js/src/regexp_vm.rs
+++ b/crates/js/src/regexp_vm.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
 //! pattern with a loop and a stack of open groups, and the matcher keeps its choice points and the
 //! values it must restore on its own stack, so neither recurses however deeply the groups nest.
 //! Quantifiers count their iterations in registers instead of repeating their atom's code. Every
-//! instruction run, every capture slot cleared and every choice point taken back costs fuel, and
+//! instruction run, every capture slot cleared, every choice point taken back and every 16 units a
+//! backreference compares cost fuel, and
 //! the compiler's work, the matcher's state and its stack are held against the heap limit, so a
 //! pattern that backtracks without end stops at a limit.
 
@@ -1294,12 +1295,19 @@ impl<'r> Matcher<'r> {
                         true
                     } else {
                         let len = e - s;
-                        let hit = pos + len <= input.len()
-                            && (0..len).all(|k| match (input.get(s + k), input.get(pos + k)) {
+                        let mut hit = pos + len <= input.len();
+                        // The units are compared 16 at a time, and each 16, or fewer at the end,
+                        // count as a step taken before they are compared.
+                        let mut k = 0;
+                        while hit && k < len {
+                            let end = len.min(k + 16);
+                            self.step(interp)?;
+                            hit = (k..end).all(|i| match (input.get(s + i), input.get(pos + i)) {
                                 (Some(&a), Some(&b)) => re.canon(a) == re.canon(b),
                                 _ => false,
                             });
-                        self.steps += len as u64 / 16;
+                            k = end;
+                        }
                         if hit {
                             pos += len;
                         }
diff --git a/crates/js/src/text_tests.rs b/crates/js/src/text_tests.rs
index 809adb5f8..70e3cd6eb 100644
--- a/crates/js/src/text_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/js/src/text_tests.rs
@@ -447,6 +447,33 @@ fn the_matcher_state_counts_against_the_heap() {
     assert_eq!(interp.heap.bytes, live);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn a_backreference_takes_fuel_for_the_units_it_compares() {
+    let mut realm = Realm::with_options(Options::default(), Limits::default());
+    let interp = realm.interp();
+    let mut fuel_for = |pattern: &str, input: &str, want: bool| {
+        let input: Vec<u16> = input.encode_utf16().collect();
+        let Ok(re) = compile_within(pattern, usize::MAX, u64::MAX).0 else { panic!("the pattern compiles") };
+        let Ok(mut m) = crate::regexp_vm::Matcher::new(&re, interp) else { panic!("the state fits") };
+        interp.fuel = 1 << 40;
+        assert!(matches!(m.match_at(interp, &input, 0), Ok(hit) if hit == want), "{pattern}");
+        (1u64 << 40) - interp.fuel
+    };
+    // The same 20,000 iterations, each running a one-unit backreference instead of a character:
+    // each comparison takes a step besides the instruction's own.
+    let a = "a".repeat(20_001);
+    let (by_char, by_backref) = (fuel_for("(a)(?:a)*$", &a, true), fuel_for("(a)(?:\\1)*$", &a, true));
+    assert!(by_backref >= by_char + 20_000, "{by_backref} < {by_char} + 20000");
+    // A long comparison takes a step for each 16 units it compares.
+    let long = fuel_for("^(a{10000})\\1", &a, true);
+    let plain = fuel_for("^(a{10000})", &a, true);
+    assert!(long >= plain + 625, "{long} < {plain} + 625");
+    // One that fails on its first unit takes a step for those 16 units only.
+    let ab = format!("{}{}", "a".repeat(10_000), "b".repeat(10_000));
+    let (by_backref, by_char) = (fuel_for("^(a{10000})\\1", &ab, false), fuel_for("^(a{10000})c", &ab, false));
+    assert!(by_backref <= by_char + 2, "{by_backref} > {by_char} + 2");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn clearing_matcher_state_takes_fuel() {
     let limits = Limits { fuel: 500_000, ..Limits::default() };