diff --git a/lib/compiler/asts.js b/lib/compiler/asts.js
index 102e354..67344de 100644
--- a/lib/compiler/asts.js
+++ b/lib/compiler/asts.js
@@ -13,50 +13,50 @@ var asts = {
     return arrays.indexOf(ast.rules, function(r) { return r.name === name; });
   },
 
-  matchesEmpty: function(ast, node) {
-    function matchesTrue()  { return true;  }
-    function matchesFalse() { return false; }
+  alwaysAdvancesOnSuccess: function(ast, node) {
+    function advancesTrue()  { return true;  }
+    function advancesFalse() { return false; }
 
-    function matchesExpression(node) {
-      return matches(node.expression);
+    function advancesExpression(node) {
+      return advances(node.expression);
     }
 
-    var matches = visitor.build({
-      rule: matchesExpression,
+    var advances = visitor.build({
+      rule: advancesExpression,
 
       choice: function(node) {
-        return arrays.some(node.alternatives, matches);
+        return arrays.every(node.alternatives, advances);
       },
 
-      action: matchesExpression,
+      action: advancesExpression,
 
       sequence: function(node) {
-        return arrays.every(node.elements, matches);
+        return arrays.some(node.elements, advances);
       },
 
-      labeled:      matchesExpression,
-      text:         matchesExpression,
-      simple_and:   matchesTrue,
-      simple_not:   matchesTrue,
-      optional:     matchesTrue,
-      zero_or_more: matchesTrue,
-      one_or_more:  matchesExpression,
-      semantic_and: matchesTrue,
-      semantic_not: matchesTrue,
+      labeled:      advancesExpression,
+      text:         advancesExpression,
+      simple_and:   advancesFalse,
+      simple_not:   advancesFalse,
+      optional:     advancesFalse,
+      zero_or_more: advancesFalse,
+      one_or_more:  advancesExpression,
+      semantic_and: advancesFalse,
+      semantic_not: advancesFalse,
 
       rule_ref: function(node) {
-        return matches(asts.findRule(ast, node.name));
+        return advances(asts.findRule(ast, node.name));
       },
 
       literal: function(node) {
-        return node.value === "";
+        return node.value !== "";
       },
 
-      "class": matchesFalse,
-      any:     matchesFalse
+      "class": advancesTrue,
+      any:     advancesTrue
     });
 
-    return matches(node);
+    return advances(node);
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/compiler/passes/report-infinite-loops.js b/lib/compiler/passes/report-infinite-loops.js
index 9f8f11c..7d23936 100644
--- a/lib/compiler/passes/report-infinite-loops.js
+++ b/lib/compiler/passes/report-infinite-loops.js
@@ -11,13 +11,13 @@ var GrammarError = require("../../grammar-error"),
 function reportInfiniteLoops(ast) {
   var check = visitor.build({
     zero_or_more: function(node) {
-      if (asts.matchesEmpty(ast, node.expression)) {
+      if (!asts.alwaysAdvancesOnSuccess(ast, node.expression)) {
         throw new GrammarError("Infinite loop detected.", node.location);
       }
     },
 
     one_or_more: function(node) {
-      if (asts.matchesEmpty(ast, node.expression)) {
+      if (!asts.alwaysAdvancesOnSuccess(ast, node.expression)) {
         throw new GrammarError("Infinite loop detected.", node.location);
       }
     }
diff --git a/lib/compiler/passes/report-left-recursion.js b/lib/compiler/passes/report-left-recursion.js
index 6261947..4bb12dc 100644
--- a/lib/compiler/passes/report-left-recursion.js
+++ b/lib/compiler/passes/report-left-recursion.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ function reportLeftRecursion(ast) {
           check(element, visitedRules);
         }
 
-        return asts.matchesEmpty(ast, element);
+        return !asts.alwaysAdvancesOnSuccess(ast, element);
       });
     },