diff --git a/lib/marked.js b/lib/marked.js
index f1d66ed4f9..526b32b6c1 100644
--- a/lib/marked.js
+++ b/lib/marked.js
@@ -154,8 +154,7 @@ Lexer.prototype.lex = function(src) {
  */
 
 Lexer.prototype.token = function(src, top) {
-  var src = src.replace(/^ +$/gm, '')
-    , next
+  var next
     , loose
     , cap
     , bull
@@ -165,6 +164,7 @@ Lexer.prototype.token = function(src, top) {
     , i
     , tag
     , l;
+  src = src.replace(/^ +$/gm, '');
 
   while (src) {
     // newline