diff --git a/sourcing/edl.py b/sourcing/edl.py
index 6a28075..de94337 100644
--- a/sourcing/edl.py
+++ b/sourcing/edl.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from .url import get_url, get_text
 from .parse import get_span, parse_span, parse_link, parse_sourcedoc_facet, xanadoc_span_html, span_html, get_urls
 from collections import defaultdict
 from html import escape
+from .utils import protect_start_spaces
 
 import re
 
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ def fulfil_edl_with_sources(edl_text):
     doc = ''.join(doc_spans)
 
     for s in source:
-        text = s.pop('text')
+        text = protect_start_spaces(s.pop('text'))
         if s['length'] > max_sourcedoc_size:
             # print('{} > {}'.format(s['length'], max_sourcedoc_size))
             continue