diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index 70f07bc..81ed6ff 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ write_rule(Rule *r, char last, char *res)
 {
 	char c, *b = r->b, *origin = dst_;
 	while((c = *b++))
-		if(c == '?' && last != '\\' && regs[(int)*b])
+		if(c == '?' && regs[(int)*b] && spacer(last) && spacer(b[1]))
 			put_reg(*b++);
 		else
 			*dst_++ = c, last = c;