diff --git a/simple-comment-markup.el b/simple-comment-markup.el
index 0770650..b331fce 100644
--- a/simple-comment-markup.el
+++ b/simple-comment-markup.el
@@ -110,11 +110,12 @@ This must not include any capturing groups."
                                            (length (plist-get pattern :start)))))
                               patterns)))
                       (body-rx
-                       (rx-to-string
-                        `(seq (not (any space ,@confounding-start-characters))
+                       (or (plist-get pattern :body)
+                           (rx-to-string
+                            `(seq (not (any space ,@confounding-start-characters))
                               (optional
                                (*? not-newline)
-                               (not space))))))
+                               (not space)))))))
                  `((,(rx (regexp simple-comment-markup-pre-rx)
                          (group (literal (plist-get pattern :start)))
                          (group (regexp body-rx))