diff --git a/src/parser/text_markup.rs b/src/parser/text_markup.rs
index 48f6eea..922d3f6 100644
--- a/src/parser/text_markup.rs
+++ b/src/parser/text_markup.rs
@@ -179,7 +179,8 @@ fn _text_markup_object<'b, 'g, 'r, 's, 'c>(
 ) -> Res<OrgSource<'s>, Vec<Object<'s>>> {
     let (remaining, _) = pre(context, input)?;
     let (remaining, open) = tag(marker_symbol)(remaining)?;
-    let (remaining, _peek_not_whitespace) = peek(not(multispace1))(remaining)?;
+    let (remaining, _peek_not_whitespace) =
+        peek(verify(anychar, |c| !c.is_whitespace() && *c != '\u{200B}'))(remaining)?;
     let text_markup_end_specialized = text_markup_end(open.into());
     let parser_context = ContextElement::ExitMatcherNode(ExitMatcherNode {
         class: ExitClass::Gamma,
@@ -277,7 +278,6 @@ pub fn pre<'b, 'g, 'r, 's>(
         None | Some('\r') | Some('\n') | Some(' ') | Some('\t') | Some('-') | Some('(')
         | Some('{') | Some('\'') | Some('"') | Some('<') => {}
         Some(_) => {
-            // Not at start of line, cannot be a heading
             return Err(nom::Err::Error(CustomError::MyError(MyError(
                 "Not a valid pre character for text markup.".into(),
             ))));