diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index eace724..735e27a 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ find_register(Rule *r, char reg)
 static char *
 compile_rule(Rule *r, int id, char *src)
 {
-	int wrapped;
+	int wrapped, reg;
 	char c, *cap, *s, *s2;
 	r->id = id, r->ptr = 0;
 
@@ -174,22 +174,21 @@ compile_rule(Rule *r, int id, char *src)
 		cap = walk(s2);
 		wrapped = c == '(';
 		if(wrapped) s2++, cap--;
-		while(s2 < cap) *dict_++ = *s2++;
+		while(s2 < cap) {
+			if(*s2 == '?') {
+				*dict_++ = *s2++;
+				reg = find_register(r, *s2);
+				if(reg < 0 && *s2 != '(')
+					r->key[r->ptr] = *s2, reg = r->ptr++;
+				*dict_++ = '0' + reg;
+			} else
+				*dict_++ = *s2++;
+		}
 		s2 += wrapped;
 	}
 	*dict_++ = 0;
 	src = s2;
 
-	s = r->a;
-	while((c = *s++)) { /* left */
-		if(c == '?') {
-			int reg = find_register(r, *s);
-			if(reg < 0 && *s != '(')
-				r->key[r->ptr] = *s, reg = r->ptr++;
-			*s = '0' + reg;
-		}
-	}
-
 	/* right ==================================== */
 
 	r->b = dict_;
@@ -208,7 +207,7 @@ compile_rule(Rule *r, int id, char *src)
 	s = r->b;
 	while((c = *s++)) { /* right */
 		if(c == '?') {
-			int reg = find_register(r, *s);
+			reg = find_register(r, *s);
 			if(reg >= 0)
 				*s = '0' + reg;
 		}