diff --git a/mode_perl.py b/mode_perl.py
index 27920cb..8d6fd7a 100644
--- a/mode_perl.py
+++ b/mode_perl.py
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ class PerlTabber(tab2.StackTabber):
     def is_base(self, y):
         if y == 0:
             return True
+        return False
         highlighter = self.mode.window.buffer.highlights[self.mode.name()]
         if not highlighter.tokens[y]:
             return False
diff --git a/tab2.py b/tab2.py
index 99af1d7..f8d567a 100644
--- a/tab2.py
+++ b/tab2.py
@@ -102,13 +102,13 @@ class StackTabber(Tabber):
     def _calc_level(self, y):
         # first we need to step back to find the last place where we have tab
         # stops figured out, or a suitable place to start
+        target = y
         while not self.is_base(y) and y > 0:
             y -= 1
 
         # ok now, let's do this shit
         self.markers = []
         currlvl      = 0
-        target       = y
         while y <= target:
             currlvl = self.get_curr_level()
             tokens = self.get_tokens(y)