diff --git a/inputremapper/injection/macros/parse.py b/inputremapper/injection/macros/parse.py
index 68ac5a74..c9be0132 100644
--- a/inputremapper/injection/macros/parse.py
+++ b/inputremapper/injection/macros/parse.py
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ def _parse_recurse(code, context, macro_instance=None, depth=0):
 
 
 def handle_plus_syntax(macro):
-    """transform a + b + c to m(a, m(b, m(c, h())))"""
+    """transform a + b + c to modify(a,modify(b,modify(c,hold())))"""
     if "+" not in macro:
         return macro
 
@@ -333,9 +333,9 @@ def handle_plus_syntax(macro):
             raise ValueError(f'Invalid syntax for "{macro}"')
 
         depth += 1
-        output += f"m({chunk},"
+        output += f"modify({chunk},"
 
-    output += "h()"
+    output += "hold()"
     output += depth * ")"
 
     logger.debug('Transformed "%s" to "%s"', macro, output)
@@ -396,14 +396,16 @@ def parse(macro, context=None, return_errors=False):
     Parameters
     ----------
     macro : string
-        "r(3, k(a).w(10))"
-        "r(2, k(a).k(KEY_A)).k(b)"
-        "w(1000).m(Shift_L, r(2, k(a))).w(10, 20).k(b)"
+        "repeat(3, key(a).wait(10))"
+        "repeat(2, key(a).key(KEY_A)).key(b)"
+        "wait(1000).modify(Shift_L, repeat(2, k(a))).wait(10, 20).key(b)"
     context : Context, or None for use in Frontend
     return_errors : bool
         If True, returns errors as a string or None if parsing worked.
         If False, returns the parsed macro.
     """
+    macro = clean(macro)
+
     try:
         macro = handle_plus_syntax(macro)
     except Exception as error:
@@ -412,8 +414,6 @@ def parse(macro, context=None, return_errors=False):
         logger.debug("".join(traceback.format_tb(error.__traceback__)).strip())
         return f"{error.__class__.__name__}: {str(error)}" if return_errors else None
 
-    macro = clean(macro)
-
     if return_errors:
         logger.debug("checking the syntax of %s", macro)
     else:
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_macros.py b/tests/unit/test_macros.py
index 32b741cb..99815e9a 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_macros.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_macros.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ from inputremapper.configs.preset import Preset
 from inputremapper.configs.system_mapping import system_mapping
 from inputremapper.utils import PRESS, RELEASE
 
-from tests.test import quick_cleanup, new_event
+from tests.test import logger, quick_cleanup, new_event
 
 
 class MacroTestBase(unittest.IsolatedAsyncioTestCase):
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ class TestMacros(MacroTestBase):
         self.assertTupleEqual(_split_keyword_arg("a=r(2, KEY_A)"), ("a", "r(2, KEY_A)"))
         self.assertTupleEqual(_split_keyword_arg('a="=,#+."'), ("a", '"=,#+."'))
 
-    async def test_is_this_a_macro(self):
+    def test_is_this_a_macro(self):
         self.assertTrue(is_this_a_macro("k(1)"))
         self.assertTrue(is_this_a_macro("k(1).k(2)"))
         self.assertTrue(is_this_a_macro("r(1, k(1).k(2))"))
@@ -252,22 +252,34 @@ class TestMacros(MacroTestBase):
         self.assertTrue(is_this_a_macro("a + b"))
         self.assertTrue(is_this_a_macro("a + b + c"))
 
-    async def test_handle_plus_syntax(self):
-        self.assertEqual(handle_plus_syntax("a + b"), "m(a,m(b,h()))")
-        self.assertEqual(handle_plus_syntax("a + b + c"), "m(a,m(b,m(c,h())))")
-        self.assertEqual(handle_plus_syntax(" a+b+c "), "m(a,m(b,m(c,h())))")
+    def test_handle_plus_syntax(self):
+        self.assertEqual(handle_plus_syntax("a + b"), "modify(a,modify(b,hold()))")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            handle_plus_syntax("a + b + c"), "modify(a,modify(b,modify(c,hold())))"
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            handle_plus_syntax(" a+b+c "), "modify(a,modify(b,modify(c,hold())))"
+        )
 
         # invalid
         strings = ["+", "a+", "+b", "k(a + b)"]
-        for s in strings:
+        for string in strings:
             with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
-                print(f"testing '{s}'")
-                handle_plus_syntax(s)
+                logger.info(f'testing "%s"', string)
+                handle_plus_syntax(string)
 
         self.assertEqual(handle_plus_syntax("a"), "a")
         self.assertEqual(handle_plus_syntax("k(a)"), "k(a)")
         self.assertEqual(handle_plus_syntax(""), "")
 
+    def test_parse_plus_syntax(self):
+        macro = parse("a + b")
+        self.assertEqual(macro.code, "modify(a,modify(b,hold()))")
+
+        # this is not erroneously recognized as "plus" syntax
+        macro = parse("key(a) # a + b")
+        self.assertEqual(macro.code, "key(a)")
+
     async def test_run_plus_syntax(self):
         macro = parse("a + b + c + d", self.context)
         self.assertSetEqual(