diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions/tabline/buffers.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions/tabline/buffers.vim
index d6993d3..c145d53 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions/tabline/buffers.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions/tabline/buffers.vim
@@ -107,7 +107,9 @@ function! airline#extensions#tabline#buffers#get()
     let bufnum = get(self.buffers, a:i, -1)
     let group = self.get_group(a:i)
     let pgroup = self.get_group(a:i - 1)
-    if get(g:, 'airline_powerline_fonts', 0)
+    " always add a space when powerline_fonts are used
+    " or for the very first item
+    if get(g:, 'airline_powerline_fonts', 0) || a:i == 0
       let space = s:spc
     else
       let space= (pgroup == group ? s:spc : '')