diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index 21f8f6e..32836bd 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -183,10 +183,10 @@ rewrite(void)
 				r->a = dict_, s = parse_frag(s + 2);
 				r->b = dict_, parse_frag(s), s = cap;
 				while(*s == ' ') s++;
-				r = rules;
-			} else
-				r = rules + 1;
-			for(; r < rules_; r++)
+				return run_rule(r, s);
+			}
+
+			for(r = rules + 1; r < rules_; r++)
 				if(run_rule(r, s)) return 1;
 		}
 		*dst_++ = last = c;