diff --git a/src/runestone.jl b/src/runestone.jl
index 826a593..71d3b9c 100644
--- a/src/runestone.jl
+++ b/src/runestone.jl
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ function spaces_in_export_public(ctx::Context, node::Node)
             state = :expect_identifier
         elseif state === :expect_identifier
             state = :expect_comma
-            if kind(kid) in KSet"Identifier @ MacroName $" || JuliaSyntax.is_operator(kid)
+            if kind(kid) in KSet"Identifier @ MacroName $ var" || JuliaSyntax.is_operator(kid)
                 any_changes && push!(kids′, kid)
                 accept_node!(ctx, kid)
                 if kind(kid) === K"@"
diff --git a/test/runtests.jl b/test/runtests.jl
index ef9b102..c8a8acf 100644
--- a/test/runtests.jl
+++ b/test/runtests.jl
@@ -841,7 +841,7 @@ end
     @test format_string("quote\nexport \$a, \$b\nend") == "quote\n    export \$a, \$b\nend"
     @test_throws Exception format_string("export \$a")
     # Non-identifiers
-    @test format_string("export  ^") == "export ^"
+    @test format_string("export ^, var\"x\"") == "export ^, var\"x\""
 end
 
 @testset "parsing new syntax" begin