diff --git a/lib/parser.js b/lib/parser.js
index eda231cb..e4b8bbf0 100644
--- a/lib/parser.js
+++ b/lib/parser.js
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@
             delete obj.cdata;
           }
           s = stack[stack.length - 1];
-          if (obj[charkey].match(/^\s*$/) && !cdata) {
+          if (obj[charkey].match(/^\s*$/) && !cdata && !_this.options.includeWhiteChars) {
             emptyStr = obj[charkey];
             delete obj[charkey];
           } else {
diff --git a/src/parser.coffee b/src/parser.coffee
index eb19c5b0..45fb6218 100644
--- a/src/parser.coffee
+++ b/src/parser.coffee
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ class exports.Parser extends events
 
       s = stack[stack.length - 1]
       # remove the '#' key altogether if it's blank
-      if obj[charkey].match(/^\s*$/) and not cdata
+      if obj[charkey].match(/^\s*$/) and not cdata and not @options.includeWhiteChars
         emptyStr = obj[charkey]
         delete obj[charkey]
       else