diff --git a/collects/drscheme/private/syntax-browser.ss b/collects/drscheme/private/syntax-browser.ss
index 3d316087..19e1fb69 100644
--- a/collects/drscheme/private/syntax-browser.ss
+++ b/collects/drscheme/private/syntax-browser.ss
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ needed to really make this work:
          (column ,col)
          (span ,span)
          (original? ,original?)
-         (properties ,@properties)
+         (properties ,@(properties))
          (contents ,contents))
        (foldl
         add-properties