diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index 15d97a2..40c35ce 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -132,7 +132,8 @@ write_rule(Rule *r, char last, char *res)
 			put_reg(*b++);
 		else
 			*outp_++ = c, last = c;
-	if(last == ' ' && outp_ - origin == 0) outp_--;
+	if(outp_ - origin == 0)
+		while(*res == ' ') res++;
 	return commit_rule(r, res, 0);
 }
 
@@ -200,7 +201,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	if(argc < 2)
 		return !printf("usage: modal [-v] source.modal\n");
 	if(argc < 3 && argv[1][0] == '-' && argv[1][1] == 'v')
-		return !printf("Modal Interpreter, 13 Apr 2024.\n");
+		return !printf("Modal Interpreter, 14 Apr 2024.\n");
 	if(!(f = fopen(argv[1], "r")))
 		return !printf("Invalid Modal file: %s.\n", argv[1]);
 	while(fread(&c, 1, 1, f)) {