diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/syntax/reader.ts b/packages/compiler/src/syntax/reader.ts
index e1b6274..1b9c864 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/syntax/reader.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/syntax/reader.ts
@@ -134,23 +134,10 @@ export class LaxReader implements IterableIterator<Item> {
                     case TokenType.SPACE:
                     case TokenType.NEWLINE:
                     case TokenType.ATOM:
+                        this.drop();
                         if (g === null) {
-                            this.drop();
                             return t;
                         }
-                        if (t.text === ';') {
-                            while ('(['.indexOf(g.open.text) >= 0) {
-                                this.stack.pop();
-                                const outer = this.stackTop();
-                                if (outer === null) {
-                                    // do not drop the semicolon here
-                                    return finishGroup(g, t.start);
-                                }
-                                outer.items.push(finishGroup(g, t.start));
-                                g = outer;
-                            }
-                        }
-                        this.drop();
                         g.items.push(t);
                         break;