diff --git a/octa/format.hh b/octa/format.hh
index b0d41cc..86ba356 100644
--- a/octa/format.hh
+++ b/octa/format.hh
@@ -261,8 +261,7 @@ protected:
     }
 
     bool read_spec_range() {
-        p_nested_escape = (*p_fmt != '-');
-        if (!p_nested_escape) ++p_fmt;
+        p_nested_escape = !(p_flags & FMT_FLAG_DASH);
         ++p_fmt;
         const char *begin_inner = p_fmt;
         if (!read_until_dummy()) {
@@ -319,9 +318,6 @@ protected:
     }
 
     bool read_spec() {
-        if ((*p_fmt == '(') || ((*p_fmt == '-') && (*(p_fmt + 1) == '('))) {
-            return read_spec_range();
-        }
         Size ndig = detail::read_digits(p_fmt, p_buf);
 
         bool havepos = false;
@@ -336,11 +332,6 @@ protected:
             havepos = true;
         }
 
-        if (havepos && ((*p_fmt == '(') || ((*p_fmt == '-') &&
-                                            (*(p_fmt + 1) == '(')))) {
-            return read_spec_range();
-        }
-
         /* parse flags */
         p_flags = 0;
         Size skipd = 0;
@@ -356,6 +347,11 @@ protected:
                 p_flags = detail::parse_fmt_flags(p_fmt, p_flags);
         }
 
+        /* range/array formatting */
+        if ((*p_fmt == '(') && (havepos || !(ndig - skipd))) {
+            return read_spec_range();
+        }
+
         /* parse width */
         p_width = 0;
         p_has_width = false;