diff --git a/collects/redex/private/size-snip.rkt b/collects/redex/private/size-snip.rkt
index d452b9e50b..b146b0760c 100644
--- a/collects/redex/private/size-snip.rkt
+++ b/collects/redex/private/size-snip.rkt
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
      (display "hole" op)]
     [(eq? val 'hole) 
      (display ",'hole" op)]
-    [else (display val op)]))
+    [else (write val op)]))
 
 (define reflowing-snip<%>
   (interface ()
diff --git a/collects/redex/tests/stepper-test.rkt b/collects/redex/tests/stepper-test.rkt
index ba28cca1e8..9ecc2edcb5 100644
--- a/collects/redex/tests/stepper-test.rkt
+++ b/collects/redex/tests/stepper-test.rkt
@@ -42,4 +42,7 @@
       (cons (list (cons 15 16))
             (list (cons 15 20))))
 
+(test (diff (term |a'|) (term b))
+      (cons (list (cons 0 4)) (list (cons 0 1))))
+
 (print-tests-passed 'stepper-test.ss)
\ No newline at end of file