diff --git a/apps/zasm/expr.asm b/apps/zasm/expr.asm
index dbd82a9..41c8049 100644
--- a/apps/zasm/expr.asm
+++ b/apps/zasm/expr.asm
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 ; We expect (HL) to be disposable: we mutate it to avoid having to make a copy.
 ; Sets Z on success, unset on error.
 parseExpr:
+	; Before we evaluate an expression, we first try for a regular number or
+	; symbol. We do this because parsing expressions can mess up some values
+	; with its splitting logic. For example '-' is going to end up '\0'.
+	call	parseNumberOrSymbol
+	ret	z
 	push	de
 	push	hl
 	call	_parseExpr
@@ -19,7 +24,7 @@ _parseExpr:
 	ld	a, '*'
 	call	_findAndSplit
 	jp	z, _applyMult
-	jp	parseNumberOrSymbol
+	ret			; failure
 
 ; Given a string in (HL) and a separator char in A, return a splitted string,
 ; that is, the same (HL) string but with the found A char replaced by a null
diff --git a/tools/tests/zasm/test1.asm b/tools/tests/zasm/test1.asm
index 89f7b40..0aa25b2 100644
--- a/tools/tests/zasm/test1.asm
+++ b/tools/tests/zasm/test1.asm
@@ -24,3 +24,4 @@ label2: .dw	0x42
 	rl	d
 	rr	e
 	rlc	c
+	cp	'-'