diff --git a/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/AsciiDoc.hs b/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/AsciiDoc.hs
index cf66aa9d9..1c33b004a 100644
--- a/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/AsciiDoc.hs
+++ b/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/AsciiDoc.hs
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ bulletListItemToAsciiDoc opts blocks = do
   contents <- foldM addBlock empty blocks
   modify $ \s -> s{ bulletListLevel = lev }
   let marker = text (replicate lev '*')
-  return $ marker <> space <> contents <> cr
+  return $ marker <> text " " <> contents <> cr
 
 -- | Convert ordered list item (a list of blocks) to asciidoc.
 orderedListItemToAsciiDoc :: WriterOptions -- ^ options
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ orderedListItemToAsciiDoc opts marker blocks = do
   modify $ \s -> s{ orderedListLevel = lev + 1 }
   contents <- foldM addBlock empty blocks
   modify $ \s -> s{ orderedListLevel = lev }
-  return $ text marker <> space <> contents <> cr
+  return $ text marker <> text " " <> contents <> cr
 
 -- | Convert definition list item (label, list of blocks) to asciidoc.
 definitionListItemToAsciiDoc :: WriterOptions
diff --git a/tests/writer.asciidoc b/tests/writer.asciidoc
index 08fe1de8b..aebc529f0 100644
--- a/tests/writer.asciidoc
+++ b/tests/writer.asciidoc
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ Ellipses…and…and….
 LaTeX
 -----
 
-*
+* 
 * latexmath:[$2+2=4$]
 * latexmath:[$x \in y$]
 * latexmath:[$\alpha \wedge \omega$]