diff --git a/examples/test.modal b/examples/test.modal
index 68b9767..01a9a30 100644
--- a/examples/test.modal
+++ b/examples/test.modal
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<> (plode ?*) (?*)
+<> (plode (String ?*)) (String ?*)
 
-(plode hello)
+(plode (plode (String hello)))
 
diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index cb52cda..7e2a69e 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -79,14 +79,19 @@ match(char *p, Rule *r)
 static char *
 plode(char *s)
 {
+	int i, depth = 0;
 	char c;
 	if(s[0] == '(') { /* implode */
-
+		while((c = *s++)) {
+			if(c == '(') depth++;
+			if(!spacer(c)) *outp_++ = c;
+			if(c == ')') --depth;
+			if(!depth) return s;
+		}
 	} else { /* explode */
-		int i, j = 0;
 		while((c = *s++) && !spacer(c))
-			*outp_++ = '(', *outp_++ = c, j++;
-		for(i = 0; i < j; i++)
+			*outp_++ = '(', *outp_++ = c, depth++;
+		for(i = 0; i < depth; i++)
 			*outp_++ = ')';
 	}
 	return s;