diff --git a/ext/ripper/tools/preproc.rb b/ext/ripper/tools/preproc.rb
index a54302fb91..25cd46e1be 100644
--- a/ext/ripper/tools/preproc.rb
+++ b/ext/ripper/tools/preproc.rb
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ def process(f, out, path, template)
   usercode f, out, path, template
 end
 
+require_relative 'dsl'
+
+RIPPER_CODE_PATTERN = %r</\*% *ripper(?:\[(.*?)\])?: *(.*?) *%\*/>
+
 def prelude(f, out)
   @exprs = {}
   while line = f.gets
@@ -58,6 +62,9 @@ def prelude(f, out)
     when /\A%%/
       out << "%%\n"
       return
+    when RIPPER_CODE_PATTERN # %rule actions may contain /*% ripper: ... %*/ DSL
+      out << DSL.new($2, ($1 || "").split(",")).generate << "\n"
+      next
     else
       if (/^enum lex_state_(?:bits|e) \{/ =~ line)..(/^\}/ =~ line)
         case line
@@ -74,12 +81,10 @@ def prelude(f, out)
   end
 end
 
-require_relative "dsl"
-
 def grammar(f, out)
   while line = f.gets
     case line
-    when %r</\*% *ripper(?:\[(.*?)\])?: *(.*?) *%\*/>
+    when RIPPER_CODE_PATTERN
       out << DSL.new($2, ($1 || "").split(",")).generate << "\n"
     when %r</\*%%%\*/>
       out << "#if 0\n"
diff --git a/parse.y b/parse.y
index e8acda2d19..cf217a313f 100644
--- a/parse.y
+++ b/parse.y
@@ -2951,6 +2951,16 @@ rb_parser_ary_free(rb_parser_t *p, rb_parser_ary_t *ary)
 
 %token tLAST_TOKEN
 
+/*
+ *	parameterizing rules
+ */
+%rule words(begin, word_list): begin ' '+ word_list tSTRING_END
+                                {
+                                    $$ = make_list($3, &@$);
+                                /*% ripper: array!($:3) %*/
+                                }
+                            ;
+
 %%
 program		:  {
                         SET_LEX_STATE(EXPR_BEG);
@@ -6104,11 +6114,7 @@ regexp		: tREGEXP_BEG regexp_contents tREGEXP_END
                     }
                 ;
 
-words		: tWORDS_BEG ' '+ word_list tSTRING_END
-                    {
-                        $$ = make_list($3, &@$);
-                    /*% ripper: array!($:3) %*/
-                    }
+words		: words(tWORDS_BEG, word_list) <node>
                 ;
 
 word_list	: /* none */
@@ -6132,11 +6138,7 @@ word		: string_content
                     }
                 ;
 
-symbols 	: tSYMBOLS_BEG ' '+ symbol_list tSTRING_END
-                    {
-                        $$ = make_list($3, &@$);
-                    /*% ripper: array!($:3) %*/
-                    }
+symbols 	: words(tSYMBOLS_BEG, symbol_list) <node>
                 ;
 
 symbol_list	: /* none */
@@ -6151,18 +6153,10 @@ symbol_list	: /* none */
                     }
                 ;
 
-qwords		: tQWORDS_BEG ' '+ qword_list tSTRING_END
-                    {
-                        $$ = make_list($3, &@$);
-                    /*% ripper: array!($:3) %*/
-                    }
+qwords		: words(tQWORDS_BEG, qword_list) <node>
                 ;
 
-qsymbols	: tQSYMBOLS_BEG ' '+ qsym_list tSTRING_END
-                    {
-                        $$ = make_list($3, &@$);
-                    /*% ripper: array!($:3) %*/
-                    }
+qsymbols	: words(tQSYMBOLS_BEG, qsym_list) <node>
                 ;
 
 qword_list	: /* none */