diff --git a/pixelocr/page.py b/pixelocr/page.py
index a95dca6..ca55904 100644
--- a/pixelocr/page.py
+++ b/pixelocr/page.py
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ class Page(PageObject):
         if line_start is not None:
             yield Line(self, self.image[line_start:,:])
 
-    def _merge_lines(self, lines, min_space=2, min_height=10):
+    def _merge_lines(self, lines, min_space=1, min_height=10):
         prev_line = None
         for line in lines:
             if prev_line is None: