diff --git a/bld/vi/dat/debug.cfg b/bld/vi/dat/debug.cfg
index 61787ae1b7..05fd8ca149 100644
--- a/bld/vi/dat/debug.cfg
+++ b/bld/vi/dat/debug.cfg
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ set inactivewindowcolor %(white)
 # extra things to match with '%'
 #
 match /\/\*/\*\//
-match /# *if/# *endif/
+match /^ *# *if/^ *# *endif/
 
 #
 # key mappings
diff --git a/bld/vi/dat/ed.cfg b/bld/vi/dat/ed.cfg
index bd24af7291..001b052fb3 100644
--- a/bld/vi/dat/ed.cfg
+++ b/bld/vi/dat/ed.cfg
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ set nocmode
 #
 match /\/\*/\*\//
 match /\[/\]/
-match /# *if/# *endif/
+match /^ *# *if/^ *# *endif/
 match /! *if/! *endif/
 
 #
diff --git a/bld/vi/dat/weditor.ini b/bld/vi/dat/weditor.ini
index 13e694ea47..302b9d8f92 100644
--- a/bld/vi/dat/weditor.ini
+++ b/bld/vi/dat/weditor.ini
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ set nozapcolorsatexit
 # Match pairs - in addition to "()" and "{}"
 match /\/\*/\*\//
 match /\[/\]/
-match /# *if/# *endif/
+match /^ *# *if/^ *# *endif/
 match /! *if/! *endif/
 setcolor 0 0 0 0
 setcolor 1 0 0 128