diff --git a/msgfmt b/msgfmt
index 973cc7f..3ee5563 100755
--- a/msgfmt
+++ b/msgfmt
@@ -121,5 +121,6 @@ awk -vid="$id" -vurl_root="$url_root" -vcref_errlog="$cref_errlog" '
     s/---/'"$mdash"'/g;
     s#``#'"$lquo"'#g;
     s#'\'\''#'"$rquo"'#g;
+    s#\(\W\)\*\*\([^\*]\+\)\*\*\(\W\)#\1<strong>\2</strong>\3#g;
     s#\(\W\)\*\([^\*]\+\)\*\(\W\)#\1<em>\2</em>\3#g;
   '