diff --git a/crates/doc/src/lib.rs b/crates/doc/src/lib.rs
index 9c2670329..8742330bc 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/lib.rs
@@ -273,7 +273,10 @@ fn parse_measure(s: &str, default: Unit) -> Option<f64> {
     for op in ['+', '-', '*', '/'] {
         // Past the first character, so a leading sign isn't an operator.
         let skip = s.chars().next().map_or(0, char::len_utf8);
-        if let Some(i) = s[skip..].rfind(op).map(|i| i + skip) {
+        // A `+` or `-` right after another operator is the sign of its operand (`10*-2`, `5--3`).
+        let is_sign = |i: usize| matches!(op, '+' | '-') && s.get(..i).and_then(|l| l.trim_end().chars().last()).is_some_and(|c| "+-*/".contains(c));
+        let found = s.char_indices().rev().find(|&(i, c)| i >= skip && c == op && !is_sign(i));
+        if let Some(i) = found.map(|(i, _)| i) {
             let (l, r) = (&s[..i], &s[i + 1..]);
             if l.trim().is_empty() {
                 continue;
diff --git a/crates/doc/src/tests_units.rs b/crates/doc/src/tests_units.rs
index bad63f23d..80a0dee21 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/tests_units.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/tests_units.rs
@@ -66,3 +66,14 @@ fn readouts_show_two_decimals() {
     assert_eq!((Unit::Inches.number(595.2756), Unit::Points.number(595.2756)), ("8.2677".into(), "595.276".into()));
     assert_eq!(Unit::Points.number(-0.00001), "0");
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn a_negative_operand_after_an_operator_is_a_sign() {
+    assert_eq!(Unit::Points.parse("10*-2"), Some(-20.0));
+    assert_eq!(Unit::Points.parse("-10/-2"), Some(5.0));
+    assert_eq!(Unit::Points.parse("5--3"), Some(8.0));
+    assert_eq!(Unit::Points.parse("5 - -3"), Some(8.0));
+    assert_eq!(Unit::Points.parse("5+-3"), Some(2.0));
+    assert_eq!(Unit::Points.parse("10-2"), Some(8.0));
+    assert_eq!(super::parse_number("90*-1"), Some(-90.0));
+}