diff --git a/lib/workers/pr/index.js b/lib/workers/pr/index.js
index 4c6d7e3e0585b401966bc6001d40bc17994d5e98..e53ac499b619d8a72df204dbcfbd1bf61193beab 100644
--- a/lib/workers/pr/index.js
+++ b/lib/workers/pr/index.js
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ async function ensurePr(prConfig) {
   let prBody = handlebars.compile(config.prBody)(config);
   if (config.isGitHub && !config.privateRepo) {
     // Put a zero width space after every # followed by a digit
-    prBody = prBody.replace(/([^a-z])#(\d)/gi, '$1#​$2');
+    prBody = prBody.replace(/#(\d)/gi, '#​$1');
     // Put a zero width space after every @ symbol to prevent unintended hyperlinking
     prBody = prBody.replace(/@/g, '@​');
     prBody = prBody.replace(/(`\[?@)​/g, '$1');