diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index 6d962e7..62b1191 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -167,12 +167,11 @@ compile_rule(Rule *r, int id, char *src)
 
 	/* left ==================================== */
 
-	r->a = dict_;
+	r->a = r->b = dict_;
 	s2 = src;
 
 	while((c = *s2) && c == ' ') s2++;
 	if(c == ')' || (c == '<' && s2[1] == '>')) {
-		r->b = dict_;
 		*dict_++ = 0;
 		return s2;
 	}
@@ -210,21 +209,19 @@ compile_rule(Rule *r, int id, char *src)
 	wrapped = c == '(';
 	if(wrapped) s2++, cap--;
 	while(s2 < cap) {
-		*dict_++ = *s2++;
+		if(*s2 == '?') {
+			*dict_++ = *s2++;
+			reg = find_register(r, *s2);
+			*dict_++ = reg >= 0 ? ('0' + reg) : *s2;
+			s2++;
+		} else
+			*dict_++ = *s2++;
 	}
 	s2 += wrapped;
 
 	*dict_++ = 0;
 	src = s2;
 
-	s2 = r->b;
-	while((c = *s2++)) { /* right */
-		if(c == '?') {
-			reg = find_register(r, *s2);
-			if(reg >= 0)
-				*s2 = '0' + reg;
-		}
-	}
 	return src;
 }