--- JSON-XS/XS.xs	2013/10/28 23:23:10	1.120
+++ JSON-XS/XS.xs	2013/10/29 00:06:40	1.121
@@ -1494,6 +1494,8 @@
 
   ++dec->cur;
 
+  decode_ws (dec);
+
   tag = decode_sv (dec);
   if (!tag)
     goto fail;
@@ -1501,11 +1503,15 @@
   if (!SvPOK (tag))
     ERR ("malformed JSON string, (tag) must be a string");
 
+  decode_ws (dec);
+
   if (*dec->cur != ')')
     ERR (") expected after tag");
 
   ++dec->cur;
 
+  decode_ws (dec);
+
   val = decode_sv (dec);
   if (!val)
     goto fail;