diff --git a/autoload/delimitMate.vim b/autoload/delimitMate.vim
index e902026..a2655b4 100644
--- a/autoload/delimitMate.vim
+++ b/autoload/delimitMate.vim
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ function! delimitMate#IsSmartQuote(char) "{{{
 	endif
 	let char_at = delimitMate#GetCharFromCursor(0)
 	let char_before = delimitMate#GetCharFromCursor(-1)
-	let valid_char_re = '\w\|[^[:punct:]]'
+	let valid_char_re = '\w\|[^[:punct:][:space:]]'
 	let word_before = char_before =~ valid_char_re
 	let word_at = char_at  =~ valid_char_re
 	let escaped = delimitMate#CursorIdx() >= 1 && delimitMate#GetCharFromCursor(-1) == '\'
diff --git a/test/autoclose_quotes.txt b/test/autoclose_quotes.txt
index b6fd398..7b4b2ec 100644
--- a/test/autoclose_quotes.txt
+++ b/test/autoclose_quotes.txt
@@ -32,3 +32,5 @@ set backspace=
 "'\<Esc>a\<BS>x" "'x'"
 set cpo=ces$
 "'x" "'x'"
+# Make sure smart quote works beyond first column.
+" 'x" " 'x'"