diff --git a/lib/down-jet.hoon b/lib/down-jet.hoon
index a426cd083f..a46da9d58a 100644
--- a/lib/down-jet.hoon
+++ b/lib/down-jet.hoon
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 ::
 ::::
   ::
-=,(markdown .)
+=,(^?(markdown) .)
 //    /%/parse                       ::  inli donp parse    
 //    /%/rend                        ::  sing sung sang flat into-inner
 ~%  %down  ..is  ~