diff --git a/lib/ace/mode/ruby_highlight_rules.js b/lib/ace/mode/ruby_highlight_rules.js
index d7a531f8..92e6044f 100644
--- a/lib/ace/mode/ruby_highlight_rules.js
+++ b/lib/ace/mode/ruby_highlight_rules.js
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ var RubyHighlightRules = function() {
             }, {
                 token : "comment", // multi line comment
                 merge : true,
-                regex : "^\=begin$",
+                regex : "^=begin\\s",
                 next : "comment"
             }, {
                 token : "string.regexp",
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ var RubyHighlightRules = function() {
         "comment" : [
             {
                 token : "comment", // closing comment
-                regex : "^\=end$",
+                regex : "^=end\\s.*$",
                 next : "start"
             }, {
                 token : "comment", // comment spanning whole line