diff --git a/sex-fmt-c.scm b/sex-fmt-c.scm
index 8d78d58..fd05daf 100644
--- a/sex-fmt-c.scm
+++ b/sex-fmt-c.scm
@@ -1015,9 +1015,24 @@
                              (cat nl (make-space (+ 2 (fmt-col st))) str " "))
                    st))))))))))
 
+  ;; `-' arrives as the symbol binary minus uses, and so with binary
+  ;; precedence: `(+ (- b) b)' asked under that spelling comes out
+  ;; `(-b) + b'.
+  (define (unary-operator op)
+    (case op
+      ((-) 'unary-)
+      ((+) 'unary+)
+      ((*) 'unary-*)
+      ((&) 'unary-&)
+      (else op)))
+
+  ;; Parenthesises the whole expression rather than the operand: the
+  ;; other way round, `(. (* p) x)' came out `*(p).x', which C reads as
+  ;; `*(p.x)'.
   (define (c-unary-op op x)
     (c-wrap-stmt
-     (cat (display-to-string op) (c-maybe-paren op (c-expr x)))))
+     (c-maybe-paren (unary-operator op)
+                    (cat (display-to-string op) (c-expr x)))))
 
   ;; some convenience definitions
 
diff --git a/tests/codegen.scm b/tests/codegen.scm
index d103dd4..e6860b6 100644
--- a/tests/codegen.scm
+++ b/tests/codegen.scm
@@ -325,4 +325,24 @@ compiles."
     (test-assert "a closure passed as an argument stays a value"
       (emits? "(fn g ((c (closure ((int)) int))) int (return 0))
                (fn f ((c (closure ((int)) int))) int (return (g c)))"
-              "g(c)"))))
+              "g(c)")))
+
+  ;; A unary expression parenthesised its operand rather than itself, so
+  ;; the parens landed inside: `*(p).x', which C reads as `*(p.x)'.
+  (test-group "unary operand precedence"
+    (test-assert "member access through a dereference"
+      (emits? "(struct pt ((x int))) (fn f ((p (* (struct pt)))) int (return (. (* p) x)))"
+              "(*p).x"))
+    (test-assert "and not with the parens inside"
+      (not (emits? "(struct pt ((x int))) (fn f ((p (* (struct pt)))) int (return (. (* p) x)))"
+                   "*(p).x")))
+    (test-assert "member access through a cast"
+      (emits? (in-fn "(var n int (. (* (cast a (* (struct s)))) f))")
+              "(*(struct s*)a).f"))
+    ;; ...without gaining parens where none are due
+    (test-assert "a bare dereference is left alone"
+      (emits? (in-fn "(var p (* int) 0) (= a (* p))") "a = *p"))
+    (test-assert "so is address-of in an argument"
+      (emits? (in-fn "(g (& a))") "g(&a)"))
+    (test-assert "and negation beside a binary operator"
+      (emits? (in-fn "(var n int (+ (- a) b))") "-a + b"))))