diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index 9c27fad..6bbd6d9 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ match_rule(Rule *r, char *p)
 		rmin = 0xff, rmax = 0x00;
 	}
 	while((c = *a)) {
-		if(c == '?' && !spacer(c)) {
+		if(c == '?') {
 			int regid = (int)*(++a);
 			char *pcap = walk(p), *reg = regs[regid];
 			if(reg) { /* reg cmp */