diff --git a/org-ql.el b/org-ql.el
index 3bcca5c..4196ab4 100644
--- a/org-ql.el
+++ b/org-ql.el
@@ -1723,8 +1723,8 @@ Multiple predicates are combined with BOOLEAN."
                                               (and predicate-without-args `(pred -- (list (intern pred))))
                                               (and plain-string `(s -- (list 'regexp s)))))
                            (plain-string (or quoted-arg unquoted-arg))
-                           (predicate-with-args (and (substring predicate) ":" args))
-                           (predicate-without-args (and (substring predicate) ":"))
+                           (predicate-with-args (substring predicate) ":" args)
+                           (predicate-without-args (substring predicate) ":")
                            (predicate (or ,@predicates))
                            (args (list (+ (and (or keyword-arg quoted-arg unquoted-arg) (opt separator)))))
                            (keyword-arg (and keyword "=" `(kw -- (intern (concat ":" kw)))))