diff --git a/python/nmodl/ode.py b/python/nmodl/ode.py
index c1c907eae..f34c9d026 100644
--- a/python/nmodl/ode.py
+++ b/python/nmodl/ode.py
@@ -366,7 +366,11 @@ def transform_expression(expr, transform):
     if not expr.args:
         return expr
 
-    args = (transform_expression(transform(arg), transform) for arg in expr.args)
+    transformed_expr = transform(expr)
+    if transformed_expr is not expr:
+        return transformed_expr
+
+    args = (transform_expression(arg, transform) for arg in expr.args)
     return expr.func(*args)
 
 
diff --git a/test/unit/ode/test_ode.py b/test/unit/ode/test_ode.py
index 82e0358d2..8be63e02e 100644
--- a/test/unit/ode/test_ode.py
+++ b/test/unit/ode/test_ode.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
 from nmodl.ode import differentiate2c, integrate2c, make_symbol
+from nmodl.ode import transform_expression, discretize_derivative
 import pytest
 
 import sympy as sp
@@ -186,3 +187,23 @@ def test_integrate2c():
         assert _equivalent(
             integrate2c(f"x'={eq}", "dt", var_list, use_pade_approx=True), f"x = {sol}"
         )
+
+
+def test_finite_difference():
+    df_dx = "(f(x + x_delta_/2) - f(x - x_delta_/2))/x_delta_"
+    dg_dx = "(g(x + x_delta_/2) - g(x - x_delta_/2))/x_delta_"
+
+    test_cases = [
+        ("f(x)", df_dx),
+        ("a*f(x)", f"a*{df_dx}"),
+        ("a*f(x)*g(x)", f"a*({df_dx}*g(x) + f(x)*{dg_dx})"),
+        ("a*f(x) + b*g(x)", f"a*{df_dx} + b*{dg_dx}"),
+    ]
+    vars = ["a", "x", "x_delta_"]
+
+    for expr, expected in test_cases:
+        expr = sp.diff(sp.sympify(expr), "x")
+        actual = transform_expression(expr, discretize_derivative)
+        msg = f"'{actual}'  =!=  '{expected}'"
+
+        assert _equivalent(str(actual), expected, vars=vars), msg
diff --git a/test/usecases/solve/finite_difference.mod b/test/usecases/solve/finite_difference.mod
index 2c0f94e86..1a1bab103 100644
--- a/test/usecases/solve/finite_difference.mod
+++ b/test/usecases/solve/finite_difference.mod
@@ -10,10 +10,12 @@ ASSIGNED {
 
 STATE {
   x
+  z
 }
 
 INITIAL {
     x = 42.0
+    z = 21.0
     a = 0.1
 }
 
@@ -22,9 +24,10 @@ BREAKPOINT {
 }
 
 DERIVATIVE dX {
-    x' = -f(x)
+    x' = f(x)
+    z' = 2.0*f(z)
 }
 
 FUNCTION f(x) {
-    f = a*x
+    f = -a*x
 }
diff --git a/test/usecases/solve/test_finite_difference.py b/test/usecases/solve/test_finite_difference.py
index b0c22af6b..e4b8f9170 100644
--- a/test/usecases/solve/test_finite_difference.py
+++ b/test/usecases/solve/test_finite_difference.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ def test_finite_difference():
     s.nseg = nseg
 
     x_hoc = h.Vector().record(s(0.5)._ref_x_finite_difference)
+    z_hoc = h.Vector().record(s(0.5)._ref_z_finite_difference)
     t_hoc = h.Vector().record(h._ref_t)
 
     h.stdinit()
@@ -19,12 +20,16 @@ def test_finite_difference():
     h.run()
 
     x = np.array(x_hoc.as_numpy())
+    z = np.array(z_hoc.as_numpy())
     t = np.array(t_hoc.as_numpy())
 
     a = h.a_finite_difference
     x_exact = 42.0 * np.exp(-a * t)
     np.testing.assert_allclose(x, x_exact, rtol=1e-4)
 
+    z_exact = 21.0 * np.exp(-2.0 * a * t)
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(z, z_exact, rtol=1e-4)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     test_finite_difference()