diff --git a/sourmash_lib/lca/command_gather.py b/sourmash_lib/lca/command_gather.py
index a1030475b6..8235cf05e5 100644
--- a/sourmash_lib/lca/command_gather.py
+++ b/sourmash_lib/lca/command_gather.py
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ def format_lineage(lineage_tup):
             name = d['strain']
         elif 'species' in present:
             species = d['species']
-            if species.startswith(genus + ' '):
+            if species.startswith(genus + ' ') or \
+              species.startswith(genus + '_'):
                 name = species
             else:
                 name = '{} {}'.format(genus, species)
diff --git a/tests/test_lca.py b/tests/test_lca.py
index e72b73d06a..c2c67f3322 100644
--- a/tests/test_lca.py
+++ b/tests/test_lca.py
@@ -808,7 +808,7 @@ def test_single_gather():
         print(out)
         print(err)
 
-        assert '2.0 Mbp     100.0%  100.0%      Alteromonas Alteromonas_macleodii' in out
+        assert '2.0 Mbp     100.0%  100.0%      Alteromonas_macleodii' in out
         assert 'Query is completely assigned.'