diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index 8bd4db2..0db8882 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -146,8 +146,10 @@ write_rule(Rule *r, char last, char *res)
 			put_reg(*b++);
 		else
 			*dst_++ = c, last = c;
-	if(dst_ == origin)
+	if(dst_ == origin) {
+		if(*res == ')') dst_--;
 		while(*res == ' ') res++;
+	}
 	return commit_rule(r, res, 0);
 }