diff --git a/ale_linters/php/phpmd.vim b/ale_linters/php/phpmd.vim
index 29d8103..e4192c7 100644
--- a/ale_linters/php/phpmd.vim
+++ b/ale_linters/php/phpmd.vim
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ function! ale_linters#php#phpmd#Handle(buffer, lines) abort
     " Matches against lines like the following:
     "
     " /path/to/some-filename.php:18 message
-    let l:pattern = '^.*:\(\d\+\)\t\(.\+\)$'
+    let l:pattern = '^.*:\(\d\+\)\s\+\(.\+\)$'
     let l:output = []
 
     for l:match in ale#util#GetMatches(a:lines, l:pattern)
diff --git a/test/handler/test_php_phpmd_handler.vader b/test/handler/test_php_phpmd_handler.vader
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be36f3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/handler/test_php_phpmd_handler.vader
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+Before:
+  runtime ale_linters/php/phpmd.vim
+
+Execute(The php static analyzer handler should parse errors from phpmd):
+  AssertEqual
+  \ [
+  \   {
+  \     'lnum': 22,
+  \     'type': 'W',
+  \     'text': "Avoid unused local variables such as '$response'.",
+  \   },
+  \   {
+  \     'lnum': 14,
+  \     'type': 'W',
+  \     'text': "The method test uses an else expression. Else is never necessary and you can simplify the code to work without else.",
+  \   },
+  \ ],
+  \ ale_linters#php#phpmd#Handle(347, [
+  \ "example.php:22     Avoid unused local variables such as '$response'.",
+  \ "example.php:14    The method test uses an else expression. Else is never necessary and you can simplify the code to work without else.",
+  \ ])
+
+After:
+  call ale#linter#Reset()