diff --git a/src/reason-parser/reason_pprint_ast.ml b/src/reason-parser/reason_pprint_ast.ml
index d2829acaf..bc73732cb 100644
--- a/src/reason-parser/reason_pprint_ast.ml
+++ b/src/reason-parser/reason_pprint_ast.ml
@@ -1760,6 +1760,8 @@ let typeApplicationFinalWrapping typeApplicationItems =
 
 (* add parentheses to binders when they are in fact infix or prefix operators *)
 let protectIdentifier txt =
+  (* (??) is a typed-hole in Merlin *)
+  if txt = "??" then atom "(??)" else
   if not (needs_parens txt) then atom txt
   else if needs_spaces txt then makeList ~wrap:("(", ")") ~pad:(true, true) [atom txt]
   else atom ("(" ^ txt ^ ")")