diff --git a/hmmlib2/hmmlib.h b/hmmlib2/hmmlib.h
index 9594dae..cb1f09c 100644
--- a/hmmlib2/hmmlib.h
+++ b/hmmlib2/hmmlib.h
@@ -586,8 +586,9 @@ static size_t _hmml_parse_text(struct _hmml_parser* p, HMML_Annotation* anno)
 
         // it is a @ ~ or : marker without parameters
         else {
-            // if next char is a space, or prev char is not a space, then it can't be a marker
-            if(strchr(" \t\r\n", p->cursor[1]) || !strchr(" \t\r\n", p->cursor[-1])) {
+            // if next char is a space, or prev char is not a space*, then it can't be a marker
+            // * unless it's the first char
+            if(strchr(" \t\r\n", p->cursor[1]) || !(out == text_mem || strchr(" \t\r\n", p->cursor[-1]))) {
                 *out++ = c;
                 ++p->cursor;
             } else {
@@ -796,7 +797,7 @@ void hmml_free(HMML_Output* out)
 }
 
 const struct HMML_Version hmml_version = {
-    2, 0, 2
+    2, 0, 3
 };
 
 #undef HSTX