diff --git a/src/frontend/dotcards.c b/src/frontend/dotcards.c
index ba0a9e41c..de7a7ee3c 100644
--- a/src/frontend/dotcards.c
+++ b/src/frontend/dotcards.c
@@ -631,7 +631,9 @@ gettoks(char *s)
         *prevp = wl;
         prevp = &wl->wl_next;
 
-        if (*(l - 1) == 'i' || *(l - 1) == 'I') {
+        /* Transfer i(xx) to xxx#branch only when i is the first
+           character of the token or preceeded by a space. */
+        if ((*(l - 1) == 'i' || *(l - 1) == 'I') && (l - 1 == t) || ((l > t + 1) && isspace(*(l-2)))) {
             char buf[513];
             sprintf(buf, "%s#branch", l + 1);
             wl->wl_word = copy(buf);