diff --git a/git_remote_helpers/hg/hg.py b/git_remote_helpers/hg/hg.py
index 758ba242d8..dd5756d4bb 100644
--- a/git_remote_helpers/hg/hg.py
+++ b/git_remote_helpers/hg/hg.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class GitHg(object):
         author = ctx.user()
 
         # check for git author pattern compliance
-        regex = re.compile('^(.*?) \<(.*?)\>(.*)$')
+        regex = re.compile('^(.*?) ?\<(.*?)\>(.*)$')
         a = regex.match(author)
 
         if a: