diff --git a/h-m-m b/h-m-m
index 3081a76..5454b7a 100755
--- a/h-m-m
+++ b/h-m-m
@@ -242,7 +242,9 @@ function decode_tree($lines, $root_id, $start_id){
         $lines[$lid]
       );
 
-    if (($lines[$lid][0]=='*' || $lines[$lid][0]=='-')&& $lines[$lid][1]==' ')
+    $start = mb_substr($lines[$lid],0,2);
+
+    if ($start==='* ' || $start==='- ')
       $lines[$lid][0]=' ';
 
     if (trim($lines[$lid])!='')