diff --git a/lark/load_grammar.py b/lark/load_grammar.py
index 1f13b5d7..d4f553c5 100644
--- a/lark/load_grammar.py
+++ b/lark/load_grammar.py
@@ -1050,6 +1050,8 @@ def _make_rule_tuple(modifiers_tree, name, params, priority_tree, expansions):
     if modifiers_tree.children:
         m ,= modifiers_tree.children
         expand1 = '?' in m
+        if expand1 and name.startswith('_'):
+            raise GrammarError("Inlined rules (_rule) cannot use the ?rule modifier.")
         keep_all_tokens = '!' in m
     else:
         keep_all_tokens = False
diff --git a/tests/test_grammar.py b/tests/test_grammar.py
index 78161899..e388cb75 100644
--- a/tests/test_grammar.py
+++ b/tests/test_grammar.py
@@ -281,6 +281,14 @@ def test_list_grammar_imports(self):
             imports = list_grammar_imports('%import common.WS', [])
             assert len(imports) == 1 and imports[0].pkg_name == 'lark'
 
+    def test_inline_with_expand_single(self):
+        grammar = r"""
+        start: _a
+        !?_a: "A"
+        """
+        self.assertRaises(GrammarError, Lark, grammar)
+
+
     def test_line_breaks(self):
         p = Lark(r"""start: "a" \
                        "b"