diff --git a/plugin/todoer.lua b/plugin/todoer.lua
index 11c131b..9f25975 100644
--- a/plugin/todoer.lua
+++ b/plugin/todoer.lua
@@ -78,9 +78,12 @@ vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>ta", add_todo, { desc = "Add todo" })
 
 -- function that checks if the current line starts with the string "- [ ]" or "- [x]" and, if it does, removes that string from the line
 local function remove_todo()
-	local openpattern = "^%s*%- %[[ ]%]"
-	local closedpattern = "^%s*%- %[[x]%]"
+	-- local openpattern = "^%s*%- %[[ ]%]"
+	-- local closedpattern = "^%s*%- %[[x]%]"
+	local openpattern = "- [ ] "
+	local closedpattern = "- [x] "
 	local line = vim.api.nvim_get_current_line()
+	local index, spaces = string.find(line, "^%s*")
 
 	if string.match(line, openpattern) or string.match(line, closedpattern) then
 		line = string.gsub(line, openpattern, "")