diff --git a/lib/ace/mode/markdown_highlight_rules.js b/lib/ace/mode/markdown_highlight_rules.js
index 59c4f936..e7bba0f0 100644
--- a/lib/ace/mode/markdown_highlight_rules.js
+++ b/lib/ace/mode/markdown_highlight_rules.js
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ var MarkdownHighlightRules = function() {
            github_embed("css", "css-"),
         { // Github style block
             token : "support.function",
-            regex : "^```[a-zA-Z]*\\s*$",
+            regex : "^```\\s*[a-zA-Z]*(?:{.*?\\})?\\s*$",
             next  : "githubblock"
         }, { // block quote
             token : "string",