diff --git a/src/normal.c b/src/normal.c
index 013fdce..f76aeee 100644
--- a/src/normal.c
+++ b/src/normal.c
@@ -4021,6 +4021,8 @@
 #endif
 
     p = transchar(c);
+    if (*p == ' ')
+	STRCPY(p, "<20>");
     old_len = (int)STRLEN(showcmd_buf);
     extra_len = (int)STRLEN(p);
     overflow = old_len + extra_len - SHOWCMD_COLS;