diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index 28b70a5..ba9a1c5 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ match_rule(Rule *r, char *p)
 		rmin = 0xff, rmax = 0x00;
 	}
 	while((c = *a)) {
-		if(c == '?') {
+		if(c == '?' && !spacer(c)) {
 			if(!set_reg(*(++a), b)) return NULL;
 			a++, b = walk(b);
 			if(!spacer(*a))