diff --git a/data/plugins/drawwhitespace.lua b/data/plugins/drawwhitespace.lua
index 9c28faa6..694eeb1a 100644
--- a/data/plugins/drawwhitespace.lua
+++ b/data/plugins/drawwhitespace.lua
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ end
 
 local draw_line_text = DocView.draw_line_text
 function DocView:draw_line_text(idx, x, y)
+  if getmetatable(self) ~= DocView then return draw_line_text(self, idx, x, y) end
   local font = (self:get_font() or style.syntax_fonts["whitespace"] or style.syntax_fonts["comment"])
   local ty = y + self:get_line_text_y_offset()
   local tx