diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index 8a1744a..8296df0 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -105,11 +105,11 @@ write_rule(Rule *r, char *s, int create)
 static int
 apply_rule(Rule *r, char *s)
 {
-	char c, *a = r->a, *regs[0x08] = {NULL};
+	char c, *a = r->a, *regs[0x08] = {NULL}, *reg;
 	/* phase: match rule */
 	while((c = *a)) {
 		if(c == '?') {
-			char *pcap = walk(s), *reg = NULL;
+			char *pcap = walk(s);
 			unsigned int id = *(++a) - '0';
 			if((reg = regs[id])) { /* reg cmp */
 				char *rcap = walk(reg), *pp = s;
@@ -129,11 +129,9 @@ apply_rule(Rule *r, char *s)
 	if(!(c = *s) || spacer(c)) {
 		char *b = r->b, *origin = dst_;
 		while((c = *b++)) {
-			if(c == '?') {
-				char *reg = NULL;
+			if(c == '?' && (unsigned int)(*b - '0') < 9) {
 				unsigned int id = *b - '0';
-				if(id < r->ptr) reg = regs[id];
-				if(reg) {
+				if((reg = regs[id])) {
 					b++;
 					if(!write_reg(r->key[id], reg) && dst_ != origin) dst_--;
 				} else