diff --git a/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/Muse.hs b/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/Muse.hs
index ad67e489d..1f6006b2e 100644
--- a/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/Muse.hs
+++ b/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/Muse.hs
@@ -291,6 +291,14 @@ conditionalEscapeString s =
     then escapeString s
     else s
 
+-- Expand Math before normalizing inline list
+preprocessInlineList :: PandocMonad m
+                     => [Inline]
+                     -> m [Inline]
+preprocessInlineList (Math t str:xs) = (++ xs) <$> texMathToInlines t str
+preprocessInlineList (x:xs) = (x:) <$> preprocessInlineList xs
+preprocessInlineList [] = return []
+
 normalizeInlineList :: [Inline] -> [Inline]
 normalizeInlineList (x : Str "" : xs)
   = normalizeInlineList (x:xs)
@@ -327,7 +335,9 @@ fixNotes (x:xs) = x : fixNotes xs
 inlineListToMuse :: PandocMonad m
                  => [Inline]
                  -> StateT WriterState m Doc
-inlineListToMuse lst = hcat <$> mapM inlineToMuse (fixNotes $ normalizeInlineList lst)
+inlineListToMuse lst = do
+  lst' <- preprocessInlineList lst
+  hcat <$> mapM inlineToMuse (fixNotes $ normalizeInlineList lst')
 
 -- | Convert Pandoc inline element to Muse.
 inlineToMuse :: PandocMonad m
@@ -363,8 +373,8 @@ inlineToMuse (Quoted DoubleQuote lst) = do
 inlineToMuse (Cite _  lst) = inlineListToMuse lst
 inlineToMuse (Code _ str) = return $
   "<code>" <> text (substitute "</code>" "<</code><code>/code>" str) <> "</code>"
-inlineToMuse (Math t str) =
-  lift (texMathToInlines t str) >>= inlineListToMuse
+inlineToMuse Math{} =
+  fail "Math should be expanded before normalization"
 inlineToMuse (RawInline (Format f) str) =
   return $ "<literal style=\"" <> text f <> "\">" <> text str <> "</literal>"
 inlineToMuse LineBreak = return $ "<br>" <> cr
diff --git a/test/Tests/Writers/Muse.hs b/test/Tests/Writers/Muse.hs
index 0b8a08258..df02236ac 100644
--- a/test/Tests/Writers/Muse.hs
+++ b/test/Tests/Writers/Muse.hs
@@ -332,6 +332,7 @@ tests = [ testGroup "block elements"
             [ "inline math" =: math "2^3" =?> "2<sup>3</sup>"
             , "display math" =: displayMath "2^3" =?> "2<sup>3</sup>"
             , "multiple letters in inline math" =: math "abc" =?> "<em>abc</em>"
+            , "expand math before normalization" =: math "[" <> str "2]" =?> "<verbatim>[2]</verbatim>"
             ]
           , "raw inline"
             =: rawInline "html" "<mark>marked text</mark>"