diff --git a/src/dbus_fast/validators.py b/src/dbus_fast/validators.py
index f35ccd4c..b2feee89 100644
--- a/src/dbus_fast/validators.py
+++ b/src/dbus_fast/validators.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 _bus_name_re = re.compile(r"^[A-Za-z_-][A-Za-z0-9_-]*$")
 _path_re = re.compile(r"^[A-Za-z0-9_]+$")
-_element_re = re.compile(r"^[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*$")
+_element_re = re.compile(r"^[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_ ]*$")
 _member_re = re.compile(r"^[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_-]*$")