diff --git a/org_rw/org_rw.py b/org_rw/org_rw.py
index 7ad947d..c006d1d 100644
--- a/org_rw/org_rw.py
+++ b/org_rw/org_rw.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ DEFAULT_TODO_KEYWORDS = ["TODO"]
 DEFAULT_DONE_KEYWORDS = ["DONE"]
 
 HEADLINE_TAGS_RE = re.compile(r"((:(\w|[0-9_@#%])+)+:)\s*$")
-HEADLINE_RE = re.compile(r"^(?P<stars>\*+)(?P<spacing>\s*)(?P<line>.*?)$")
+HEADLINE_RE = re.compile(r"^(?P<stars>\*+)(?P<spacing>\s+)(?P<line>.*?)$")
 KEYWORDS_RE = re.compile(
     r"^(?P<indentation>\s*)#\+(?P<key>[^:\[]+)(\[(?P<options>[^\]]*)\])?:(?P<spacing>\s*)(?P<value>.*)$"
 )