diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index bdc5464..e8efb35 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ write_reg(char r, char *reg)
 		return 1;
 	case '*': { /* op: explode */
 		int i, depth = 0;
-		if(*reg == '(') { /* tuple */
+		if(*reg == '(' && reg[1] != ')') { /* tuple */
 			reg++;
 			while(reg < cap) {
 				while((c = *reg) && !spacer(c))