diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index fd5e6e5..70f07bc 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ put_reg(char r)
 				case 't': putc(0x09, stdout); break;
 				case 'n': putc(0x0a, stdout); break;
 				case 's': putc(0x20, stdout); break;
+				case '?': putc(0x3f, stdout); break;
 				}
 			} else
 				putc(c, stdout);
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ match_rule(Rule *r, char *p)
 		rmin = 0xff, rmax = 0x00;
 	}
 	while((c = *a)) {
-		if(spacer(last) && c == '?') {
+		if(c == '?' && last != '\\') {
 			if(!set_reg(*(++a), b)) return NULL;
 			a++, b = walk(b);
 			continue;
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ write_rule(Rule *r, char last, char *res)
 {
 	char c, *b = r->b, *origin = dst_;
 	while((c = *b++))
-		if(spacer(last) && c == '?' && regs[(int)*b])
+		if(c == '?' && last != '\\' && regs[(int)*b])
 			put_reg(*b++);
 		else
 			*dst_++ = c, last = c;