diff --git a/Text/Parsec/Language.hs b/Text/Parsec/Language.hs
index a8bf2b52..bd99ece6 100644
--- a/Text/Parsec/Language.hs
+++ b/Text/Parsec/Language.hs
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ module Text.Parsec.Language
     , GenLanguageDef
     ) where
 
+import Data.Char (isSpace)
+
 import Text.Parsec
 import Text.Parsec.Token
 
@@ -88,6 +90,7 @@ emptyDef    = LanguageDef
                , reservedOpNames= []
                , reservedNames  = []
                , caseSensitive  = True
+               , spaceFunc      = isSpace
                }
 
 
diff --git a/Text/Parsec/Token.hs b/Text/Parsec/Token.hs
index 27c13033..1ffb96f0 100644
--- a/Text/Parsec/Token.hs
+++ b/Text/Parsec/Token.hs
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@ makeTokenParser languageDef
 
 
     simpleSpace =
-        skipMany1 (satisfy isSpace)
+        skipMany1 (satisfy $ spaceFunc languageDef)
 
     oneLineComment =
         do{ try (string (commentLine languageDef))