diff --git a/examples/test.modal b/examples/test.modal
index ba31c3a..7bf0ba0 100644
--- a/examples/test.modal
+++ b/examples/test.modal
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 <> (dup ?x) (?x ?x)
-<> (?x ?y swap) (?y ?x)
 
-((hey) (there) swap)
+(dup (123))
 
diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index 12a5877..0619992 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -20,8 +20,11 @@ walk(char *s)
 	char c;
 	while((c = *s++)) {
 		if(c == '(') depth++;
-		if(c == ')') --depth;
-		if(spacer(c) && !depth) break;
+		if(c == ')') {
+			--depth;
+			if(!depth) break;
+		}
+		if(depth < 0) break;
 	}
 	return s;
 }
@@ -46,10 +49,13 @@ writereg(char r)
 	int depth = 0;
 	char c, *s = regs[(int)r];
 	while((c = *s++)) {
-		*outp_++ = c;
 		if(c == '(') depth++;
-		if(c == ')') --depth;
-		if(!depth) break;
+		if(c == ')') {
+			--depth;
+			if(!depth) break;
+		}
+		if(depth < 0) break;
+		*outp_++ = c;
 	}
 	return 1;
 }