diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/textile/functions.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/textile/functions.py
index eca4bcecff..ec675b9b62 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/textile/functions.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/textile/functions.py
@@ -807,7 +807,7 @@ class Textile(object):
 
         for qtag in qtags:
             pattern = re.compile(r"""
-                (?:^|(?<=[\s>%(pnct)s])|([\]}]))
+                (?:^|(?<=[\s>%(pnct)s])|\[|([\]}]))
                 (%(qtag)s)(?!%(qtag)s)
                 (%(c)s)
                 (?::(\S+))?