diff --git a/luamml-convert.lua b/luamml-convert.lua
index d120534..5500f9e 100644
--- a/luamml-convert.lua
+++ b/luamml-convert.lua
@@ -382,7 +382,8 @@ function nodes_to_table(head, cur_style)
   end
   -- In TeX, groups are never space like
   if core == space_like then
-    result[#result+1] = {[0] = 'mi', intent = '@ignore'}
+    core = {[0] = 'mi', intent = '@ignore'}
+    result[#result+1] = core
   end
   if t[0] == 'mrow' and #t == 1 then
     assert(t == result)