diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index ba9a1c5..ff780b3 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -136,9 +136,9 @@ commit_rule(Rule *r, char *s, int create)
 }
 
 static int
-write_rule(Rule *r, char last, char *res)
+write_rule(Rule *r, char *res)
 {
-	char c, *b = r->b, *origin = dst_;
+	char c, last = 0, *b = r->b, *origin = dst_;
 	while((c = *b++))
 		if(c == '?' && last != '\\' && regs[(int)*b])
 			put_reg(*b++);
@@ -197,11 +197,11 @@ rewrite(void)
 				create_rule(&lambda, -1, s), s = cap;
 				while((c = *s) && c <= ' ') s++;
 				if((res = match_rule(&lambda, s)) != NULL)
-					return write_rule(&lambda, last, res);
+					return write_rule(&lambda, res);
 			}
 			for(r = rules; r < rules_; r++)
 				if((res = match_rule(r, s)) != NULL)
-					return write_rule(r, last, res);
+					return write_rule(r, res);
 		}
 		*dst_++ = last = c;
 		s++;