diff --git a/python/tests/unit/collectors/test_references.py b/python/tests/unit/collectors/test_references.py
index 06b6a56..a90a50c 100644
--- a/python/tests/unit/collectors/test_references.py
+++ b/python/tests/unit/collectors/test_references.py
@@ -1624,6 +1624,10 @@ class TestFencedCodeBlocks:
                 b"``` python\n[text](href)\n```",
                 id="fenced-code-3-backticks-lang",
             ),
+            pytest.param(
+                b"```text\n[text](href)\n\nline two\n```",
+                id="fenced-code-3-backticks-lang-without-space",
+            ),
             pytest.param(
                 b"````\n[text](href)\n````",
                 id="fenced-code-4-backticks",
diff --git a/python/zensical/collectors/references/cursor.py b/python/zensical/collectors/references/cursor.py
index ebd12ae..9faa83a 100644
--- a/python/zensical/collectors/references/cursor.py
+++ b/python/zensical/collectors/references/cursor.py
@@ -220,17 +220,12 @@ def _scan(cursor: Cursor) -> Iterator[Reference]:
             if (
                 cursor.at_line_start()
                 and count >= 3  # noqa: PLR2004
-                and cursor.peek(count) in (_SPACE, _TAB, _CR, _NL, -1)
             ):
                 end = _scan_fenced_code(cursor, _BACKTICK)
                 if end is not None:
                     cursor.advance(end - cursor.pos)
                     continue
 
-                # Literal
-                cursor.advance(count)
-                continue
-
             # Inline code: `...`
             end = _scan_inline_code(cursor)
             if end is not None: