diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
index dc645c5f3..4e472a569 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
@@ -960,7 +960,7 @@ lotcostp =
   char '{'
   doublebrace <- option False $ char '{' >> pure True
   lift skipNonNewlineSpaces
-  _fixed <- fmap isJust $ optional $ lift skipNonNewlineSpaces >> char '='
+  _fixed <- fmap isJust $ optional $ char '='
   lift skipNonNewlineSpaces
   _a <- simpleamountp False
   lift skipNonNewlineSpaces
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/Parse.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/Parse.hs
index 3fa87d048..a8c217770 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/Parse.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/Parse.hs
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ type TextParser m a = ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData Text m a
 -- and current parser state (position and next input).
 -- See also: Hledger.Utils.Debug, megaparsec's dbg.
 -- Uses unsafePerformIO.
+-- XXX Can be hard to make this evaluate.
 traceOrLogParse :: String -> TextParser m ()
 traceOrLogParse msg = do
   pos <- getSourcePos