diff --git a/lang/lex.c b/lang/lex.c
index d764710..bf460ce 100644
--- a/lang/lex.c
+++ b/lang/lex.c
@@ -890,8 +890,8 @@ static enum ivy_status read_ident(struct ivy_lexer *lex)
 	}
 
 	const char *s = b_string_ptr(str);
-	if (!strcmp(s, "_")) {
-		push_symbol(lex, IVY_SYM_UNDERSCORE);
+	if (!label && !strcmp(s, "_")) {
+		return push_symbol(lex, IVY_SYM_UNDERSCORE);
 	}
 
 	enum ivy_keyword keyword = IVY_KW_NONE;