diff --git a/gnucash/report/report-system/report-utilities.scm b/gnucash/report/report-system/report-utilities.scm
index 1c595a6735..0383bc9690 100644
--- a/gnucash/report/report-system/report-utilities.scm
+++ b/gnucash/report/report-system/report-utilities.scm
@@ -506,28 +506,26 @@ flawed. see report-utilities.scm. please update reports.")
       (() (reverse result))
 
       ((date . rest)
+       (define (before-date? s) (< (split->date s) date))
+       (define (after-date? s) (< date (split->date s)))
        (match splits
 
          ;; end of splits, but still has dates. pad with last-result
          ;; until end of dates.
          (() (lp '() rest (cons last-result result) last-result))
 
-         ((head . tail)
-          (let ((next (and (pair? tail) (car tail))))
-            (cond
-
-             ;; the next split is still before date.
-             ((and next (< (split->date next) date))
-              (lp tail dates result (split->elt head)))
+         ;; the next split is still before date.
+         ((and (_ (? before-date?) . _) (head . tail))
+          (lp tail dates result (split->elt head)))
 
-             ;; head split after date, accumulate previous result
-             ((< date (split->date head))
-              (lp splits rest (cons last-result result) last-result))
+         ;; head split after date, accumulate previous result
+         (((? after-date?) . tail)
+          (lp splits rest (cons last-result result) last-result))
 
-             ;; head split before date, next split after date, or end.
-             (else
-              (let ((head-result (split->elt head)))
-                (lp tail rest (cons head-result result) head-result)))))))))))
+         ;; head split before date, next split after date, or end.
+         ((head . tail)
+          (let ((head-result (split->elt head)))
+            (lp tail rest (cons head-result result) head-result))))))))
 
 ;; This works similar as above but returns a commodity-collector, 
 ;; thus takes care of children accounts with different currencies.