diff --git a/src/tvhlog.c b/src/tvhlog.c
index 312b45f5..563d58ea 100644
--- a/src/tvhlog.c
+++ b/src/tvhlog.c
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ tvhlog_set_subsys ( htsmsg_t **c, const char *subsys )
     subsys = NULL;
     a      = 1;
     if (!*t) goto next;
-    if (t[0] == '+' || t[0] == '-') {
+    if (t[0] == '+' || t[0] == '-' || t[0] <= ' ') {
       a = t[0] == '+';
       t++;
     }