diff --git a/contrib/check-code.py b/contrib/check-code.py
--- a/contrib/check-code.py
+++ b/contrib/check-code.py
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ for i in [0, 1]:
 
 utestfilters = [
     (r"<<(\S+)((.|\n)*?\n  > \1)", rephere),
-    (r"( *)(#([^\n]*\S)?)", repcomment),
+    (r"( +)(#([^\n]*\S)?)", repcomment),
 ]
 
 pypats = [