diff --git a/examples/test.modal b/examples/test.modal
index 1e92471..6f577f2 100644
--- a/examples/test.modal
+++ b/examples/test.modal
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<> (?x dup) (?x ?x)
-<> (?x ?y swap) (?y ?x)
+<> (?x dup)        (?x ?x)
+<> (?x ?y swap)     (?y ?x)
 
 (A B swap) dup
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index f399099..9c818c6 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -116,9 +116,11 @@ print_rules(void)
 static char *
 parse_rulefrag(FILE *f)
 {
-	int depth = 0;
+	int depth = 0, trim = 0;
 	char c, *origin = dict_;
 	while(f && fread(&c, 1, 1, f) && c && c != 0xa) {
+		if(c == ' ' && !trim) continue;
+		trim = 1;
 		if(c == '(') {
 			depth++;
 			if(depth == 1) continue;