diff --git a/demjson.py b/demjson.py
index 226e268..046b867 100644
--- a/demjson.py
+++ b/demjson.py
@@ -4852,7 +4852,7 @@ def decodeobj(self, state, identifier_as_string=False, at_document_start=False):
                 obj = self.decode_string(state)
             elif c.isdigit() or c in '.+-':
                 obj = self.decode_number(state)
-            elif c.isalpha() or c in'_$':
+            elif c.isalpha() or c in '_$':
                 obj = self.decode_identifier(state, identifier_as_string=identifier_as_string)
             else:
                 state.push_error('Can not decode value starting with character %r' % c)