diff --git a/rossh_client.py b/rossh_client.py
index f9d81fc..db2542b 100644
--- a/rossh_client.py
+++ b/rossh_client.py
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ def init_connection(self, master_fd):
                         # this seems to be more robust.
                         def run_cmd(cmd):
                             assert b'\n' not in cmd
-                            write_to(master_fd, cmd + b'\n')
+                            write_to(master_fd, b' ' + cmd + b'\n')
                             while True:
                                 data = os.read(master_fd, 4096)
                                 if is_debug: write_to(stdout_fileno, b'{' + data + b'}')