diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index af1d47a..ec31827 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -43,12 +43,8 @@ plode(char *s)
 			if(!depth) return s;
 		}
 	} else { /* explode */
-		*outp_++ = *s++;
-		if(!spacer(*s)) *outp_++ = ' ';
-		while((c = *s++) && !spacer(c)) {
-			*outp_++ = '(', *outp_++ = c, depth++, c = *s;
-			if(!spacer(c)) *outp_++ = ' ';
-		}
+		while((c = *s++) && !spacer(c))
+			*outp_++ = c, *outp_++ = ' ', *outp_++ = '(', depth++;
 		for(i = 0; i < depth; i++)
 			*outp_++ = ')';
 	}