diff --git a/msgfmt b/msgfmt
index 8c9ee16..973cc7f 100755
--- a/msgfmt
+++ b/msgfmt
@@ -121,5 +121,5 @@ awk -vid="$id" -vurl_root="$url_root" -vcref_errlog="$cref_errlog" '
     s/---/'"$mdash"'/g;
     s#``#'"$lquo"'#g;
     s#'\'\''#'"$rquo"'#g;
-    s#\(\W\)\*\([^\*]\+\)\*\(\W\)#<em>\1\2\3</em>#g;
+    s#\(\W\)\*\([^\*]\+\)\*\(\W\)#\1<em>\2</em>\3#g;
   '