diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index 5ef7d54..6566ccc 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -141,8 +141,10 @@ rewrite(void)
 		int i;
 		if(p[0] == '<' && p[1] == '>') {
 			Rule *r = &rules[rules_len++];
-			p += 3;
-			r->a = parse_rule(p), p = walk(p) + 1;
+			p += 2;
+			while((c = *p) && c <= ' ') p++;
+			r->a = parse_rule(p), p = walk(p);
+			while((c = *p) && c <= ' ') p++;
 			r->b = parse_rule(p), p = walk(p);
 			return save(-1, p);
 		}