diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index b6cec90af..c0a6044e8 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+2.5.2 -> 2.5.3:
+	- allow %define with leading whitespace
+
 2.5.1 -> 2.5.2:
 	- added -bs to build just a source package
 	- included irix.req and irix.prov (Tim Mooney)
diff --git a/build/macro.c b/build/macro.c
index a1a350853..baaf3661b 100644
--- a/build/macro.c
+++ b/build/macro.c
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ int expandMacros(struct MacroContext *mc, char *buf)
 	return 0;
     }
 
+    first = buf;
+    SKIPSPACE(first);
+    
     copyFrom = buf;
     copyTo = bufA;
 
@@ -55,7 +58,7 @@ int expandMacros(struct MacroContext *mc, char *buf)
 	    if (parseMacro(copyFrom+1, &name, &rest)) {
 		return 1;
 	    }
-	    if (copyFrom == buf && !strcmp(name, "define")) {
+	    if (copyFrom == first && !strcmp(name, "define")) {
 		if (handleDefine(mc, rest)) {
 		    return 1;
 		}