diff --git a/bcc_core.py b/bcc_core.py
index db21ff7..2cbe54c 100644
--- a/bcc_core.py
+++ b/bcc_core.py
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ def _normalize_unicode(text: str, notes: list[str]) -> str:
     out = text
     for junk in _JUNK_CHARS:
         out = out.replace(junk, "")
-    out = out.replace(" ", " ")  # non-breaking space
+    out = out.replace("\xa0", " ")  # non-breaking space
     for smart, ascii_q in _QUOTE_MAP.items():
         out = out.replace(smart, ascii_q)
     if out != text:
@@ -1565,4 +1565,3 @@ def pin_command_path(data: dict, path: str | None = None) -> tuple[dict, str | N
                     out["args"] = args
                     return out, f"'{c}'  →  {resolved}"
     return data, None
-