diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index 1355f39..a9596e7 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -133,20 +133,22 @@ commit_rule(Rule *r, char *s, int create)
 static char *
 parse_rule_frag(char *s)
 {
-	char *ss = walk(s), *d = dict_;
+	char *ss = walk(s);
 	if(*s == '(') s++, ss--;
 	while((s < ss)) *dict_++ = *s++;
 	*dict_++ = 0;
-	return d;
+	return s;
 }
 
 static char *
 parse_rule(Rule *r, char *s){
 	char c;
 	while((c = *s) && c <= ' ') s++;
-	r->a = parse_rule_frag(s), s = walk(s);
+	r->a = dict_;
+	s = parse_rule_frag(s), s++;
 	while((c = *s) && c <= ' ') s++;
-	r->b = parse_rule_frag(s), s = walk(s);
+	r->b = dict_;
+	s = parse_rule_frag(s), s++;
 	return s;
 }