diff --git a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
index 483f88704..ff2006437 100644
--- a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
@@ -883,13 +883,13 @@ module ApplicationHelper
   def parse_sections(text, project, obj, attr, only_path, options)
     return unless options[:edit_section_links]
     text.gsub!(HEADING_RE) do
-      heading = $1
+      heading, level = $1, $2
       @current_section += 1
       if @current_section > 1
         content_tag('div',
           link_to('', options[:edit_section_links].merge(:section => @current_section),
                   :class => 'icon-only icon-edit'),
-          :class => "contextual heading-#{$2}",
+          :class => "contextual heading-#{level}",
           :title => l(:button_edit_section),
           :id => "section-#{@current_section}") + heading.html_safe
       else