diff --git a/packages/mini/mini.mjs b/packages/mini/mini.mjs
index 9217ae24..fdd3d3b1 100644
--- a/packages/mini/mini.mjs
+++ b/packages/mini/mini.mjs
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ export function patternifyAST(ast, code, onEnter, offset = 0) {
       return enter(ast.source_);
     }
     case 'atom': {
-      if (ast.source_ === '~') {
+      if (ast.source_ === '~' || ast.source_ === '-') {
         return strudel.silence;
       }
       if (!ast.location_) {
diff --git a/packages/mini/test/mini.test.mjs b/packages/mini/test/mini.test.mjs
index 6bf1bbce..647512a8 100644
--- a/packages/mini/test/mini.test.mjs
+++ b/packages/mini/test/mini.test.mjs
@@ -117,6 +117,9 @@ describe('mini', () => {
     checkEuclid([11, 24], 'x ~ ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~');
     checkEuclid([13, 24], 'x ~ x x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~');
   });
+  it('supports the - alias for ~', () => {
+    expect(minS('a - b [- c]')).toEqual(minS('a ~ b [~ c]'));
+  });
   it('supports the ? operator', () => {
     expect(
       mini('a?')