diff --git a/pae2xml.pl b/pae2xml.pl
index 060d1ab7c8bad762007f6ed0bb6ff161c09d097e..a33111cc90294b231ce86b3475836496729286dd 100755
--- a/pae2xml.pl
+++ b/pae2xml.pl
@@ -381,6 +381,10 @@ sub parse_notes {
     elsif ($notes =~ s/(\d+\.*)\(((\,|\')*(x|xx|b|bb|n)?\d*\.*(g|q)?(\-|A|B|C|D|E|F|G)t?\+?)\)/\($1$2\)/gs) { # pull duration into fermata parentheses
       #      print "after replacement: $notes\n"; exit;
     }
+    elsif ($notes =~ /^ +(.*)$/) {
+      $notes = $1;
+      print("Invalid space encountered in notes before $notes\n");
+    }
     else {
       print_error("got stuck with $notes\n");
       $notes = "";
diff --git a/sample_files/Invalid-space.pae b/sample_files/Invalid-space.pae
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ac087c137aa714587fc16f082517d11096464aa9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sample_files/Invalid-space.pae
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+Test Composer
+Test case for invalid spaces inside Plaine and Easie code
+1.1.1: S
+plain&easy: %C-1@c$bB� '4C DEF/ GAB''C//
+
+Test Library
+00000000
\ No newline at end of file