diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index 081bb87..7b3dcdd 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -190,16 +190,17 @@ compile_rule(Rule *r, int id, char *src)
 }
 
 static Rule *
-find_rule(char *s)
+find_rule(char *s, char *cap)
 {
 	Rule *r = rules;
+	if(*s == '(') s++, cap--;
 	while(r < rules_) {
 		char *ss = s, *a = r->a;
 		while(*ss++ == *a++)
 			if(!*a) return r;
 		r++;
 	}
-	return NULL;
+	return r;
 }
 
 static int
@@ -227,12 +228,12 @@ rewrite(void)
 			}
 			/* phase: undefine */
 			if(c == '>' && s[1] == '<') {
-				s += 2;
+				s += 2, cap = walk(s);
 				while(*s == ' ') s++;
-				r = find_rule(s), r->a = 0, s = walk(s);
+				r = find_rule(s, cap), r->a = 0;
 				if(!quiet && r->a) fprintf(stderr, ">< (%s)\n", r->a);
-				while(*s == ' ') s++;
-				return write_rule(NULL, s);
+				while(*cap == ' ') cap++;
+				return write_rule(NULL, cap);
 			}
 			/* phase: match */
 			for(r = rules; r < rules_; r++)