diff --git a/etc/hello.tal b/etc/hello.tal
index ea2c00f..67533a2 100644
--- a/etc/hello.tal
+++ b/etc/hello.tal
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 |00 @System &vector $2 &expansion $2 &wst $1 &rst $1 &metadata $2 &r $2 &g $2 &b $2 &debug $1 &state $1
 
-%emit ( byte -- ) { #18 DEO }
+%emit ( byte -- ) { ( hey ) #18 DEO }
 
 |0100 @program
 
diff --git a/src/uxnasm.c b/src/uxnasm.c
index aa7d0e2..ce53375 100644
--- a/src/uxnasm.c
+++ b/src/uxnasm.c
@@ -188,8 +188,10 @@ makemacro(char *name, FILE *f, Context *ctx)
 	while(f && fread(&c, 1, 1, f) && c != '}') {
 		if(c == 0xa) ctx->line += 1;
 		if(c == '%') return 0;
-		if(c == '(') walkcomment(f, ctx);
-		*dictnext++ = c;
+		if(c == '(')
+			walkcomment(f, ctx);
+		else
+			*dictnext++ = c;
 	}
 	*dictnext++ = 0;
 	return 1;