diff --git a/src/mathed/InsetMathPhantom.cpp b/src/mathed/InsetMathPhantom.cpp
index bbc2234a18..cd4ae451cf 100644
--- a/src/mathed/InsetMathPhantom.cpp
+++ b/src/mathed/InsetMathPhantom.cpp
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@ void InsetMathPhantom::draw(PainterInfo & pi, int x, int y) const
 void InsetMathPhantom::write(WriteStream & os) const
 {
 	MathEnsurer ensurer(os);
+	if (os.fragile())
+		os << "\\protect";
 	switch (kind_) {
 	case phantom:
 		os << "\\phantom{";
diff --git a/src/mathed/MathMacro.cpp b/src/mathed/MathMacro.cpp
index fe6e9188b0..2f0241b5ac 100644
--- a/src/mathed/MathMacro.cpp
+++ b/src/mathed/MathMacro.cpp
@@ -707,8 +707,8 @@ void MathMacro::write(WriteStream & os) const
 	// we should be ok to continue even if this fails.
 	LATTEST(macro_);
 
-	// optional arguments make macros fragile
-	if (optionals_ > 0 && os.fragile())
+	// Always protect macros in a fragile environment
+	if (os.fragile())
 		os << "\\protect";
 	
 	os << "\\" << name();