diff --git a/src/tools/pgindent/pgindent b/src/tools/pgindent/pgindent
index 539dac2750..eb0ce1590b 100755
--- a/src/tools/pgindent/pgindent
+++ b/src/tools/pgindent/pgindent
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ do
 # mark some comments for special treatment later
 	sed 's;/\*  *---;/*---X_X;g' |
 # workaround for indent bug with 'else' handling
-	sed 's;\([} 	]\)else[ 	]*\(/\*.*\)$;\1else\
-\2;g' | 
+	sed 's;\([} 	]\)else\([ 	]*\)\(/\*.*\)$;\1else\
+\2\3;g' |
 	detab -t4 -qc |
 # work around bug where function that defines no local variables misindents
 # switch() case lines and line after #else.  Do not do for struct/enum.