diff --git a/src/parser/plain_list.rs b/src/parser/plain_list.rs
index 8c02bff..bc3a4fe 100644
--- a/src/parser/plain_list.rs
+++ b/src/parser/plain_list.rs
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ fn item_tag<'b, 'g, 'r, 's>(
         ),
         |(children, _exit_contents)| !children.is_empty(),
     )(input)?;
-    let (remaining, _) = tag(" ::")(remaining)?;
+    let (remaining, _) = tuple((one_of(" \t"), tag("::")))(remaining)?;
     Ok((remaining, children))
 }
 
@@ -341,9 +341,10 @@ fn item_tag_end<'b, 'g, 'r, 's>(
     _context: RefContext<'b, 'g, 'r, 's>,
     input: OrgSource<'s>,
 ) -> Res<OrgSource<'s>, OrgSource<'s>> {
-    recognize(alt((
-        tag(" :: "),
-        recognize(tuple((tag(" ::"), alt((line_ending, eof))))),
+    recognize(tuple((
+        one_of(" \t"),
+        tag("::"),
+        alt((recognize(one_of(" \t")), line_ending, eof)),
     )))(input)
 }
 
diff --git a/src/parser/util.rs b/src/parser/util.rs
index c9314c1..e521079 100644
--- a/src/parser/util.rs
+++ b/src/parser/util.rs
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@ use nom::branch::alt;
 use nom::character::complete::anychar;
 use nom::character::complete::line_ending;
 use nom::character::complete::none_of;
+use nom::character::complete::one_of;
 use nom::character::complete::space0;
 use nom::combinator::eof;
 use nom::combinator::not;
 use nom::combinator::opt;
 use nom::combinator::peek;
 use nom::combinator::recognize;
-use nom::combinator::verify;
 use nom::multi::many0;
 use nom::multi::many_till;
 use nom::sequence::tuple;
@@ -94,9 +94,9 @@ pub fn maybe_consume_object_trailing_whitespace_if_not_exiting<'b, 'g, 'r, 's>(
 ) -> Res<OrgSource<'s>, Option<OrgSource<'s>>> {
     // We have to check exit matcher after each character because description list tags need to end with a space unconsumed (" ::").
     let (remaining, _) = many_till(
-        verify(anychar, |c| *c == ' '),
+        one_of(" \t"),
         alt((
-            peek(recognize(verify(anychar, |c| *c != ' '))),
+            peek(recognize(none_of(" \t"))),
             parser_with_context!(exit_matcher_parser)(context),
         )),
     )(input)?;