diff --git a/src/frontend/subckt.c b/src/frontend/subckt.c
index 8e9c3d223..e471df7e5 100644
--- a/src/frontend/subckt.c
+++ b/src/frontend/subckt.c
@@ -1313,11 +1313,10 @@ finishLine(struct bxx_buffer *t, char *src, char *scname)
             bxx_putc(t, *src++);
             continue;
         }
+        src = skip_ws(s + 1);
         lastwasalpha = 0;
         bxx_putc(t, which);
-        src = s;
         bxx_putc(t, '(');
-        src = skip_ws(src + 1);
         for (buf = src; *src && !isspace_c(*src) && *src != ',' && *src != ')'; )
             src++;
         buf_end = src;