diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index d72274f8b..214f01364 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
   dictionary entry is a container. If so, then it's probably split over
   multiple lines with the opening bracket on the same line as the key.
   Therefore, we shouldn't enforce a split because of that.
+- Increase split penalty around exponent operator.
 
 ## [0.25.0] 2018-11-25
 ### Added
diff --git a/yapf/yapflib/split_penalty.py b/yapf/yapflib/split_penalty.py
index 9279a36f1..7d84d8a3d 100644
--- a/yapf/yapflib/split_penalty.py
+++ b/yapf/yapflib/split_penalty.py
@@ -144,12 +144,12 @@ def Visit_parameters(self, node):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
   def Visit_arglist(self, node):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     # arglist ::= argument (',' argument)* [',']
     self.DefaultNodeVisit(node)
-    index = 1
-    while index < len(node.children):
+
+    for index in py3compat.range(1, len(node.children)):
       child = node.children[index]
       if isinstance(child, pytree.Leaf) and child.value == ',':
         _SetUnbreakable(child)
-      index += 1
+
     for child in node.children:
       if pytree_utils.NodeName(child) == 'atom':
         _IncreasePenalty(child, CONNECTED)
@@ -157,28 +157,26 @@ def Visit_arglist(self, node):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
   def Visit_argument(self, node):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     # argument ::= test [comp_for] | test '=' test  # Really [keyword '='] test
     self.DefaultNodeVisit(node)
-    index = 1
-    while index < len(node.children) - 1:
+
+    for index in py3compat.range(1, len(node.children) - 1):
       child = node.children[index]
       if isinstance(child, pytree.Leaf) and child.value == '=':
         _SetSplitPenalty(
             pytree_utils.FirstLeafNode(node.children[index]), NAMED_ASSIGN)
         _SetSplitPenalty(
             pytree_utils.FirstLeafNode(node.children[index + 1]), NAMED_ASSIGN)
-      index += 1
 
   def Visit_tname(self, node):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     # tname ::= NAME [':' test]
     self.DefaultNodeVisit(node)
-    index = 1
-    while index < len(node.children) - 1:
+
+    for index in py3compat.range(1, len(node.children) - 1):
       child = node.children[index]
       if isinstance(child, pytree.Leaf) and child.value == ':':
         _SetSplitPenalty(
             pytree_utils.FirstLeafNode(node.children[index]), NAMED_ASSIGN)
         _SetSplitPenalty(
             pytree_utils.FirstLeafNode(node.children[index + 1]), NAMED_ASSIGN)
-      index += 1
 
   def Visit_dotted_name(self, node):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     # dotted_name ::= NAME ('.' NAME)*
diff --git a/yapf/yapflib/unwrapped_line.py b/yapf/yapflib/unwrapped_line.py
index 44bdc3145..40f129571 100644
--- a/yapf/yapflib/unwrapped_line.py
+++ b/yapf/yapflib/unwrapped_line.py
@@ -528,7 +528,9 @@ def _SplitPenalty(prev_token, cur_token):
     return 0
   if prev_token.is_binary_op:
     # We would rather not split after an equality operator.
-    return 20
+    return split_penalty.CONNECTED
+  if pval == '**' or cval == '**':
+    return split_penalty.STRONGLY_CONNECTED
   if (format_token.Subtype.VARARGS_STAR in prev_token.subtypes or
       format_token.Subtype.KWARGS_STAR_STAR in prev_token.subtypes):
     # Don't split after a varargs * or kwargs **.
diff --git a/yapftests/reformatter_buganizer_test.py b/yapftests/reformatter_buganizer_test.py
index 8f353d8e6..38e4437f1 100644
--- a/yapftests/reformatter_buganizer_test.py
+++ b/yapftests/reformatter_buganizer_test.py
@@ -28,6 +28,16 @@ class BuganizerFixes(yapf_test_helper.YAPFTest):
   def setUpClass(cls):
     style.SetGlobalStyle(style.CreateChromiumStyle())
 
+  def testB73166511(self):
+    code = """\
+def _():
+  if min_std is not None:
+    groundtruth_age_variances = tf.maximum(groundtruth_age_variances,
+                                           min_std**2)
+"""
+    uwlines = yapf_test_helper.ParseAndUnwrap(code)
+    self.assertCodeEqual(code, reformatter.Reformat(uwlines))
+
   def testB118624921(self):
     code = """\
 def _():