diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index f54c9ac..0737597 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -31,22 +31,21 @@ walk(char *s)
 }
 
 static int
-compare(char *a, char *b)
+bind(int id, char *b)
 {
-	char *aa = walk(a), *bb = walk(b);
-	while(a < aa && b < bb)
-		if(*a++ != *b++) return 0;
+	if(regs[id]) {
+		char *a = regs[id], *aa = walk(a), *bb = walk(b);
+		while(a < aa && b < bb)
+			if(*a++ != *b++) return 0;
+	} else if(id == ':') {
+		char *bb = walk(b);
+		if(*b == '(') b++, --bb;
+		while(b < bb) putc(*(b++), stdout);
+	} else
+		regs[id] = b;
 	return 1;
 }
 
-static void
-call(char *s)
-{
-	char *ss = walk(s);
-	if(*s == '(') s++, --ss;
-	while(s < ss) putc(*(s++), stdout);
-}
-
 static char *
 match(char *p, Rule *r)
 {
@@ -57,14 +56,7 @@ match(char *p, Rule *r)
 			regs[i] = 0;
 	while((c = *a)) {
 		if(c == '?') {
-			int id = (int)*(++a);
-			if(regs[id]) {
-				if(!compare(regs[id], b))
-					return NULL;
-			} else if(id == ':')
-				call(b);
-			else
-				regs[id] = b;
+			if(!bind(*(++a), b)) return NULL;
 			a++, b = walk(b);
 		}
 		if(!*a && spacer(*b)) return b;