diff --git a/lib/http.c b/lib/http.c
index fce6c7ccb8..d0f044bf3c 100644
--- a/lib/http.c
+++ b/lib/http.c
@@ -4391,19 +4391,16 @@ static CURLcode http_parse_headers(struct Curl_easy *data,
 
       if(data->state.leading_unfold) {
         /* immediately after an unfold, keep only a single whitespace */
-        const size_t iblen = blen;
         while(consumed && ISBLANK(buf[0])) {
           consumed--;
           buf++;
           blen--;
         }
         if(consumed) {
-          if(iblen > blen) {
-            /* take one step back */
-            consumed++;
-            buf--;
-            blen++;
-          }
+          /* insert a single space */
+          result = curlx_dyn_addn(&data->state.headerb, " ", 1);
+          if(result)
+            return result;
           data->state.leading_unfold = FALSE; /* done now */
         }
       }
diff --git a/tests/data/test1274 b/tests/data/test1274
index 2f40b5d69d..0cac3b0519 100644
--- a/tests/data/test1274
+++ b/tests/data/test1274
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ Date: Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:49:00 GMT%CR
 Server: test-server/%CR
  fake%CR
  folded%CR
+Tabs: tab-instead/%TAB%CR
+%TABonly%CR
+%TAB mixed%CR
 Last-Modified: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 12:10:00 GMT%CR
 ETag: "21025-dc7-39462498"%CR
 Content-Length: 6%CR
@@ -52,6 +55,7 @@ Accept: */*
 HTTP/1.1 200 OK
 Date: Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:49:00 GMT
 Server: test-server/ fake folded
+Tabs: tab-instead/ only mixed
 Last-Modified: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 12:10:00 GMT
 ETag: "21025-dc7-39462498"
 Content-Length: 6
diff --git a/tests/data/test1940 b/tests/data/test1940
index 597adf851b..e8f7d44e95 100644
--- a/tests/data/test1940
+++ b/tests/data/test1940
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ Fold: is
  folding a%repeat[5 x  ]%
    line
 Content-Length: 0
+Test:%TAB
+%TAB%SP
+%TABword
 Set-Cookie: onecookie=data;
 Set-Cookie: secondcookie=2data;
 Set-Cookie: cookie3=data3;
@@ -62,6 +65,7 @@ http://%HOSTIP:%HTTPPORT/%TESTNUMBER
  Fold == is folding a line
  Blank ==%SP
  Blank2 ==%SP
+ Test == word
 </stdout>
 </verify>
 </testcase>
diff --git a/tests/libtest/lib1940.c b/tests/libtest/lib1940.c
index 66aa63b46b..a9114216a1 100644
--- a/tests/libtest/lib1940.c
+++ b/tests/libtest/lib1940.c
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ static void t1940_showem(CURL *curl, int header_request, unsigned int type)
     "fold",
     "blank",
     "Blank2",
+    "Test",
     NULL
   };