diff --git a/lang/ast/expr.c b/lang/ast/expr.c
index 5ac8c89..63f6f8a 100644
--- a/lang/ast/expr.c
+++ b/lang/ast/expr.c
@@ -819,8 +819,14 @@ static enum ivy_status add_child(
 	    || state->s_subexpr == EXPR_SUBTYPE_COMPLEX_MSG) {
 		/* treat the child node as a keyword-message argument */
 		b_queue_push_back(&state->s_args, &child->n_entry);
+	} else if (state->s_subexpr == EXPR_SUBTYPE_KEYWORD_ARG) {
+		/* treat the child node as a sub-expression enclosed in
+		 * parentheses (i.e. an operand). */
+		b_queue_push_back(&state->s_output_queue, &child->n_entry);
+		state->s_prev_component = EXPR_CMP_OPERAND;
 	} else if (child->n_type == IVY_AST_MSG) {
 		push_operator(state, child);
+		state->s_prev_component = EXPR_CMP_MSG;
 	} else {
 		/* treat the child node as a sub-expression enclosed in
 		 * parentheses (i.e. an operand). */