diff --git a/msgfmt b/msgfmt
index 63b3c01..88e4b70 100755
--- a/msgfmt
+++ b/msgfmt
@@ -73,4 +73,5 @@ awk '/^diff --git/ { exit } { print }' \
     s/---/'"$mdash"'/g;
     s#``#'"$lquo"'#g;
     s#'\'\''#'"$rquo"'#g;
+    s#\(\W\)\*\([^\*]\+\)\*\(\W\)#<em>\1\2\3</em>#g;
   '