diff --git a/content.py b/content.py
index c8000411a..77391ce5a 100644
--- a/content.py
+++ b/content.py
@@ -1334,12 +1334,17 @@ def bold_reading_string(text: str) -> str:
         add_paragraph_markup = True
     paragraphs = text.split('\n')
     parag_ctr = 0
-    new_text = ''
+    new_text = ''    
     for parag in paragraphs:
         words = parag.split(' ')
         new_parag = ''
+        reading_markup = False
         for wrd in words:
-            if len(wrd) > 1 and \
+            if '<' in wrd and '>' not in wrd:
+                reading_markup = True
+            if reading_markup and '>' in wrd and '<' not in wrd:
+                reading_markup = False
+            if not reading_markup and len(wrd) > 1 and \
                '<' not in wrd and '>' not in wrd and \
                not wrd.startswith(':'):
 
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index 838c669d1..fb4ef453c 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -6720,6 +6720,17 @@ def _test_bold_reading() -> None:
         print(text_bold)
     assert text_bold == expected
 
+    text = '<p>This is a test <a class="some class" ' + \
+        'href="some_url">with markup containing spaces</a><p>'
+    text_bold = bold_reading_string(text)
+    expected = \
+        '<p><b>Th</b>is <b>i</b>s a <b>te</b>st ' + \
+        '<a class="some class" href="some_url">with ' + \
+        '<b>mar</b>kup <b>conta</b>ining spaces</a></p>'
+    if text_bold != expected:
+        print(text_bold)
+    assert text_bold == expected
+
 
 def run_all_tests():
     base_dir = os.getcwd()