diff --git a/zsh-vi-mode.zsh b/zsh-vi-mode.zsh
index 3de298f..18cc137 100644
--- a/zsh-vi-mode.zsh
+++ b/zsh-vi-mode.zsh
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ function zvm_escape_non_printed_characters() {
       str="${str}^${c}"
     elif [[ "$c" == '' ]]; then
       str="${str}^?"
-    elif [[ "$c" == '' ]]; then
+    elif [[ "$c" == ' ' ]]; then
       str="${str}^@"
     else
       str="${str}${c}"