diff --git a/dagrt/expression.py b/dagrt/expression.py
index 871cba568993bb86ab2cf391ae63864092904325..41f53180d242a64c8bb8fe1b2ee36c8a6f439abe 100644
--- a/dagrt/expression.py
+++ b/dagrt/expression.py
@@ -375,8 +375,9 @@ class _ExtendedParser(Parser):
             identifier += pstate.next_str_and_advance()
             pstate.expect(_greater)
             identifier += pstate.next_str_and_advance()
-            pstate.expect(_identifier)
-            identifier += pstate.next_str_and_advance()
+            if pstate.is_next(_identifier):
+                identifier += pstate.next_str_and_advance()
+
             return primitives.Variable(identifier)
         else:
             return super(_ExtendedParser, self).parse_terminal(pstate)