diff --git a/unshackle/core/utils/template_formatter.py b/unshackle/core/utils/template_formatter.py
index 0f67367..9d0e237 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/utils/template_formatter.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/utils/template_formatter.py
@@ -73,7 +73,9 @@ class TemplateFormatter:
                             has_left = s[0] in ".- "
                             has_right = s[-1] in ".- "
                             if has_left and has_right:
-                                return s[0]  # keep left separator
+                                if s[-1] == "-":
+                                    return s[-1]
+                                return s[0]
                             return ""
 
                         result = re.sub(