diff --git a/libguile/symbols.c b/libguile/symbols.c
index 3093a6484..b1d43b5a4 100644
--- a/libguile/symbols.c
+++ b/libguile/symbols.c
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ SCM_DEFINE (scm_gensym, "gensym", 0, 1, 0,
             (SCM prefix),
 	    "Create a new symbol with a name constructed from a prefix and\n"
 	    "a counter value. The string @var{prefix} can be specified as\n"
-	    "an optional argument. Default prefix is @code{g}.  The counter\n"
+	    "an optional argument. Default prefix is @code{ g}.  The counter\n"
 	    "is increased by 1 at each call. There is no provision for\n"
 	    "resetting the counter.")
 #define FUNC_NAME s_scm_gensym
@@ -240,8 +240,9 @@ SCM_DEFINE (scm_gensym, "gensym", 0, 1, 0,
   size_t len;
   if (SCM_UNBNDP (prefix))
     {
-      name[0] = 'g';
-      len = 1;
+      name[0] = ' ';
+      name[1] = 'g';
+      len = 2;
     }
   else
     {