diff --git a/src/archunitpython/slices/uml/generate_rules.py b/src/archunitpython/slices/uml/generate_rules.py
index de65704..6739444 100644
--- a/src/archunitpython/slices/uml/generate_rules.py
+++ b/src/archunitpython/slices/uml/generate_rules.py
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ def generate_rule(puml_content: str) -> tuple[list[Rule], list[str]]:
 
     for line in lines:
         stripped = line.strip()
+        
 
         # Skip empty lines, comments, @startuml/@enduml
         if not stripped or stripped.startswith("@") or stripped.startswith("'"):
@@ -50,8 +51,9 @@ def generate_rule(puml_content: str) -> tuple[list[Rule], list[str]]:
                 contained_nodes.append(name)
             continue
 
+        without_arrow_direction = re.sub(r"(-+)[a-z]+(-+)>", r"\1\2>", stripped)
         # Match relationships: [Source] --> [Target] or [Source] -> [Target]
-        rel_match = re.match(r"\[([^\]]+)\]\s*-+>\s*\[([^\]]+)\]", stripped)
+        rel_match = re.match(r"\[([^\]]+)\]\s*-+>\s*\[([^\]]+)\]", without_arrow_direction)
         if rel_match:
             source = rel_match.group(1).strip()
             target = rel_match.group(2).strip()
diff --git a/tests/slices/test_slices.py b/tests/slices/test_slices.py
index 6773069..0aa2d3e 100644
--- a/tests/slices/test_slices.py
+++ b/tests/slices/test_slices.py
@@ -141,6 +141,20 @@ def test_components_with_colors(self):
   component [db]
   [api] -> [db]
 @enduml
+"""
+        rules, nodes = generate_rule(puml)
+        assert "api" in nodes
+        assert "db" in nodes
+        assert len(rules) == 1
+
+
+    def test_arrow_with_direction(self):
+        puml = """
+@startuml
+  component [api]
+  component [db]
+  [api] -d-> [db]
+@enduml
 """
         rules, nodes = generate_rule(puml)
         assert "api" in nodes