diff --git a/lib/inlines.js b/lib/inlines.js
index 5c471fcc..9e8861db 100644
--- a/lib/inlines.js
+++ b/lib/inlines.js
@@ -143,7 +143,9 @@ var parseBackticks = function(block) {
             contents = this.subject.slice(afterOpenTicks,
                                         this.pos - ticks.length)
                           .replace(/\n/gm, ' ');
-            if (contents.length > 0 && contents[0] == ' ' &&
+            if (contents.length > 0 &&
+                contents.match(/[^ ]/) !== null &&
+                contents[0] == ' ' &&
                 contents[contents.length - 1] == ' ') {
                 node._literal = contents.slice(1, contents.length - 1);
             } else {