diff --git a/src/pytest_codeblocks/__about__.py b/src/pytest_codeblocks/__about__.py
index 7f33bc0..fd86b3e 100644
--- a/src/pytest_codeblocks/__about__.py
+++ b/src/pytest_codeblocks/__about__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "0.16.2"
+__version__ = "0.17.0"
diff --git a/src/pytest_codeblocks/plugin.py b/src/pytest_codeblocks/plugin.py
index 84432f3..d0e931e 100644
--- a/src/pytest_codeblocks/plugin.py
+++ b/src/pytest_codeblocks/plugin.py
@@ -108,8 +108,8 @@ def runtest(self):
             str1 = output
 
             if self.obj.expected_output_ignore_whitespace:
-                str0 = re.sub(r"^\s+", "", str0, flags=re.MULTILINE)
-                str1 = re.sub(r"^\s+", "", str1, flags=re.MULTILINE)
+                str0 = re.sub(r"\s+", "", str0)
+                str1 = re.sub(r"\s+", "", str1)
 
             if str0 != str1:
                 raise RuntimeError(
diff --git a/tests/test_expected_output.py b/tests/test_expected_output.py
index 0a68bc0..55c0f46 100644
--- a/tests/test_expected_output.py
+++ b/tests/test_expected_output.py
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@ def test_expected_output_ignore_whitespace(testdir):
 dolor sit amet
 <!--pytest-codeblocks:expected-output-ignore-whitespace-->
 ```
- 4
-     -2
+ 4 -2
 
   3
 ```
@@ -56,3 +55,24 @@ def test_expected_output_ignore_whitespace(testdir):
     testdir.makefile(".md", string)
     result = testdir.runpytest("--codeblocks")
     result.assert_outcomes(passed=1)
+
+
+def test_expected_output_ignore_whitespace_fail(testdir):
+    string = """
+Lorem ipsum
+```python
+print(1 + 3)
+print(1 - 3)
+print(1 * 3)
+```
+dolor sit amet
+<!--pytest-codeblocks:expected-output-ignore-whitespace-->
+```
+ 4 -2
+
+  5
+```
+"""
+    testdir.makefile(".md", string)
+    result = testdir.runpytest("--codeblocks")
+    result.assert_outcomes(failed=1)