diff --git a/lib/ace/mode/html_highlight_rules.js b/lib/ace/mode/html_highlight_rules.js
index b7e73805..d80ec2de 100644
--- a/lib/ace/mode/html_highlight_rules.js
+++ b/lib/ace/mode/html_highlight_rules.js
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ var HtmlHighlightRules = function() {
             next : "style"
         }, {
             token : "meta.tag", // opening tag
-            regex : "<\\/?(?=\\w)",
+            regex : "<\\/?(?=\\S)",
             next : "tag"
         }, {
             token : "text",