diff --git a/src/mol-script/transpilers/rasmol/parser.ts b/src/mol-script/transpilers/rasmol/parser.ts
index 582e478976a6ab2e4af656d44266119dfaafbc41..103dcd1fe7f9e8e25f1ed8339125a9e71d2d3099 100644
--- a/src/mol-script/transpilers/rasmol/parser.ts
+++ b/src/mol-script/transpilers/rasmol/parser.ts
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ const lang = P.MonadicParser.createLanguage({
             r.Parens,
             r.Operator,
             r.Expression
-        ).wrap(P.MonadicParser.string('( '), P.MonadicParser.string(' )'));
+        ).wrap(P.MonadicParser.regexp(/\(\s+/), P.MonadicParser.regexp(/\s+\)/));
     },
 
     Expression: function (r: any) {