diff --git a/autoload/indent_guides.vim b/autoload/indent_guides.vim
index cad7c92..ad98247 100644
--- a/autoload/indent_guides.vim
+++ b/autoload/indent_guides.vim
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ function! indent_guides#enable()
   for l:level in range(s:start_level, s:indent_levels)
     let l:group = 'IndentGuides' . ((l:level % 2 == 0) ? 'Even' : 'Odd')
     let l:column_start = (l:level - 1) * s:indent_size + 1
-    let l:soft_pattern = indent_guides#indent_highlight_pattern('\s', l:column_start, s:guide_size)
+    let l:soft_pattern = indent_guides#indent_highlight_pattern(g:indent_guides_soft_pattern, l:column_start, s:guide_size)
     let l:hard_pattern = indent_guides#indent_highlight_pattern('\t', l:column_start, s:indent_size)
 
     " define the higlight patterns and add to matches list
diff --git a/doc/indent_guides.txt b/doc/indent_guides.txt
index 9a208be..202e8c4 100644
--- a/doc/indent_guides.txt
+++ b/doc/indent_guides.txt
@@ -141,6 +141,16 @@ Default: 1. Values: 0 or 1.
 >
   let g:indent_guides_space_guides = 0
 <
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+                                                  *'indent_guides_soft_pattern'*
+Use this option to explicitly specify a pattern for indentation. For example
+to match spaces only in the beginning of line use ' ' pattern.
+
+Default: '\s'. Values: vim regexp.
+>
+  let g:indent_guides_soft_pattern = ' '
+<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          *'indent_guides_enable_on_vim_startup'*
 Use this option to control whether the plugin is enabled on Vim startup.
diff --git a/plugin/indent_guides.vim b/plugin/indent_guides.vim
index 642553b..94cfed1 100644
--- a/plugin/indent_guides.vim
+++ b/plugin/indent_guides.vim
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ call s:InitVariable('g:indent_guides_start_level',           1 )
 call s:InitVariable('g:indent_guides_enable_on_vim_startup', 0 )
 call s:InitVariable('g:indent_guides_debug',                 0 )
 call s:InitVariable('g:indent_guides_space_guides',          1 )
+call s:InitVariable('g:indent_guides_soft_pattern',        '\s')
+
 
 " Default mapping
 if !hasmapto('<Plug>IndentGuidesToggle', 'n') && maparg('<Leader>ig', 'n') == ''