diff --git a/syntax/compile_xstr.go b/syntax/compile_xstr.go
index 53ed8faa..f1d341c2 100644
--- a/syntax/compile_xstr.go
+++ b/syntax/compile_xstr.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ var (
 	indentRE      = regexp.MustCompile(`(\n[\t ]*)\z`)
 	firstIndentRE = regexp.MustCompile(`\A((\n[\t ]+)(?:\n)|(\n))`)
 	lastSpacesRE  = regexp.MustCompile(`\n([ \t]*)\z`)
+	spaces        = regexp.MustCompile(`\A[\t ]+`)
 )
 
 func (pc ParseContext) compileExpandableString(ctx context.Context, b ast.Branch, c ast.Children) (rel.Expr, error) {
@@ -25,6 +26,13 @@ func (pc ParseContext) compileExpandableString(ctx context.Context, b ast.Branch
 	parts := []interface{}{}
 
 	ws := quote[2:]
+
+	// retain initial spaces
+	if spaces.MatchString(ws) {
+		parts = append(parts, ws)
+		ws = ""
+	}
+
 	trim := ""
 	trimIndent := func(s string) {
 		s = ws + s
diff --git a/syntax/parse_string_test.go b/syntax/parse_string_test.go
index a85725bd..f3ce7fa9 100644
--- a/syntax/parse_string_test.go
+++ b/syntax/parse_string_test.go
@@ -16,6 +16,18 @@ func TestXStringSimple(t *testing.T) {
 	AssertCodesEvalToSameValue(t, `"a42k3.142z"     `, `$"a${6*7}k${//math.pi:.3f}z"`)
 }
 
+func TestXStringRetainInitialSpaces(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	AssertCodesEvalToSameValue(t, `"    "     `, `$"    "         `)
+	AssertCodesEvalToSameValue(t, `"    x"    `, `$"    x"        `)
+	AssertCodesEvalToSameValue(t, `"     abc" `, `$"     ${'abc'}"`)
+	AssertCodesEvalToSameValue(t, `"      abc"`, `$"     ${$' abc'}"`)
+
+	// suppress empty line
+	AssertCodesEvalToSameValue(t, `""`, `$"     ${''}"`)
+}
+
 func TestXStringBackquote(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	AssertCodesEvalToSameValue(t, `""      `, "$``")