diff --git a/parse.py b/parse.py
index 062a421..788f579 100644
--- a/parse.py
+++ b/parse.py
@@ -1261,11 +1261,11 @@ def _handle_field(self, field):
 
         # align "=" has been handled
         if align == '<':
-            s = '%s%s+' % (s, fill)
+            s = '%s%s*' % (s, fill)
         elif align == '>':
             s = '%s*%s' % (fill, s)
         elif align == '^':
-            s = '%s*%s%s+' % (fill, s, fill)
+            s = '%s*%s%s*' % (fill, s, fill)
 
         return s
 
diff --git a/test_parse.py b/test_parse.py
index 1752a42..26c1b83 100755
--- a/test_parse.py
+++ b/test_parse.py
@@ -865,17 +865,22 @@ def test_pickling_bug_110(self):
         # prior to the fix, this would raise an AttributeError
         pickle.dumps(p)
 
-    def test_search_centered_bug_112(self):
-        r = parse.parse("{:^},{:^}", " 12 , 34 ")
-        self.assertEqual(r[1], "34")
-        r = parse.search("{:^},{:^}", " 12 , 34 ")
-        self.assertEqual(r[1], "34")
-
-    def test_search_left_align_bug_112(self):
-        r = parse.parse("{:<},{:<}", "12 ,34 ")
-        self.assertEqual(r[1], "34")
-        r = parse.search("{:<},{:<}", "12 ,34 ")
-        self.assertEqual(r[1], "34")
+    def test_unused_centered_alignment_bug(self):
+        r = parse.parse("{:^2S}", "foo")
+        self.assertEqual(r[0], "foo")
+        r = parse.search("{:^2S}", "foo")
+        self.assertEqual(r[0], "foo")
+
+        # specifically test for the case in issue #118 as well
+        r = parse.parse("Column {:d}:{:^}", "Column 1: Timestep")
+        self.assertEqual(r[0], 1)
+        self.assertEqual(r[1], "Timestep")
+
+    def test_unused_left_alignment_bug(self):
+        r = parse.parse("{:<2S}", "foo")
+        self.assertEqual(r[0], "foo")
+        r = parse.search("{:<2S}", "foo")
+        self.assertEqual(r[0], "foo")
 
     def test_match_trailing_newline(self):
         r = parse.parse('{}', 'test\n')