diff --git a/include/xo/reader/expect_symbol_xs.hpp b/include/xo/reader/expect_symbol_xs.hpp
index 103b89aa..144bc3d0 100644
--- a/include/xo/reader/expect_symbol_xs.hpp
+++ b/include/xo/reader/expect_symbol_xs.hpp
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ namespace xo {
             expect_symbol_xs();
 
             static std::unique_ptr<expect_symbol_xs> expect_symbol_expression();
+
+            virtual void on_symbol_token(const token_type & tk,
+                                         exprstatestack * p_stack,
+                                         rp<Expression> * p_emit_expr) override;
         };
     } /*namespace scm*/
 } /*namespace xo*/
diff --git a/src/reader/expect_symbol_xs.cpp b/src/reader/expect_symbol_xs.cpp
index afc8bf6e..84faeaa3 100644
--- a/src/reader/expect_symbol_xs.cpp
+++ b/src/reader/expect_symbol_xs.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,20 @@ namespace xo {
             : exprstate(exprstatetype::expect_symbol)
         {}
 
+        void
+        expect_symbol_xs::on_symbol_token(const token_type & tk,
+                                          exprstatestack * p_stack,
+                                          rp<Expression> * p_emit_expr)
+        {
+            /* have to do pop first, before sending symbol to
+             * the o.g. symbol-requester
+             */
+            std::unique_ptr<exprstate> self = p_stack->pop_exprstate();
+
+            p_stack->top_exprstate().on_symbol(tk.text(),
+                                               p_stack, p_emit_expr);
+            return;
+        }
     } /*namespace scm*/
 } /*namespace xo*/
 
diff --git a/src/reader/exprstate.cpp b/src/reader/exprstate.cpp
index 9c083656..aa916b0d 100644
--- a/src/reader/exprstate.cpp
+++ b/src/reader/exprstate.cpp
@@ -198,22 +198,11 @@ namespace xo {
             case exprstatetype::defexpr:
             case exprstatetype::parenexpr:
             case exprstatetype::expect_rhs_expression:
+            case exprstatetype::expect_symbol:
                 /* unreachable - redirected to define_xs etc */
                 assert(false);
                 return;
 
-            case exprstatetype::expect_symbol:
-            {
-                /* have to do pop first, before sending symbol to
-                 * the o.g. symbol-requester
-                 */
-                std::unique_ptr<exprstate> self = p_stack->pop_exprstate();
-
-                p_stack->top_exprstate().on_symbol(tk.text(),
-                                                   p_stack, p_emit_expr);
-                return;
-            }
-
             case exprstatetype::expect_type: {
                 TypeDescr td = nullptr;