diff --git a/after/syntax/markdown.vim b/after/syntax/markdown.vim
index 2ddbd4d..f052675 100644
--- a/after/syntax/markdown.vim
+++ b/after/syntax/markdown.vim
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 " Add match for GitHub style check boxes
 syn match markdownCheckboxDelimiter '[\[\]]' contained
 syn match markdownCheckboxTick 'x' contained
-syn match markdownCheckbox '\*\s\[\(x\|\s\)\]\s' contains=markdownCheckboxDelimiter,markdownCheckboxTick,markdownListMarker
+syn match markdownCheckbox '\s*\*\s\[\(x\|\s\)\]\s' contains=markdownCheckboxDelimiter,markdownCheckboxTick,markdownListMarker
 
 hi link markdownCode Special
 hi link markdownCodeDelimiter PreProc