diff --git a/hy/core/bootstrap.py b/hy/core/bootstrap.py
index 18f4cd5..2b9f458 100644
--- a/hy/core/bootstrap.py
+++ b/hy/core/bootstrap.py
@@ -49,11 +49,13 @@ def cond_macro(tree):
 
 @macro("_>")
 def threading_macro(tree):
-    tree.pop(0)  # ->
-    tree.reverse()
+    tree.pop(0)
     ret = tree.pop(0)
-    root = ret
     for node in tree:
-        ret.insert(1, node)
+        if not isinstance(node, HyExpression):
+            nnode = HyExpression([node])
+            nnode.replace(node)
+            node = nnode
+        node.insert(1, ret)
         ret = node
-    return root
+    return ret
diff --git a/tests/native_tests/language.hy b/tests/native_tests/language.hy
index ce82231..a591325 100644
--- a/tests/native_tests/language.hy
+++ b/tests/native_tests/language.hy
@@ -139,6 +139,12 @@
              ["X" "B" "C" "D"])))
 
 
+(defn test-threading-two []
+  "NATIVE: test threading macro"
+  (assert (= (-> "a b c d" .upper (.replace "A" "X") .split)
+             ["X" "B" "C" "D"])))
+
+
 (defn test-assoc []
   "NATIVE: test assoc"
   (def vals {"one" "two"})