diff --git a/range-diff.c b/range-diff.c
index 784fac301b..a5202d8b6c 100644
--- a/range-diff.c
+++ b/range-diff.c
@@ -119,9 +119,10 @@ static int read_patches(const char *range, struct string_list *list)
 				strbuf_addch(&buf, '\n');
 			}
 			continue;
-		} else if (starts_with(line, "@@ "))
-			strbuf_addstr(&buf, "@@");
-		else if (!line[0] || starts_with(line, "index "))
+		} else if (skip_prefix(line, "@@ ", &p)) {
+			p = strstr(p, "@@");
+			strbuf_addstr(&buf, p ? p : "@@");
+		} else if (!line[0] || starts_with(line, "index "))
 			/*
 			 * A completely blank (not ' \n', which is context)
 			 * line is not valid in a diff.  We skip it
diff --git a/t/t3206-range-diff.sh b/t/t3206-range-diff.sh
index 048feaf6dd..aebd4e3693 100755
--- a/t/t3206-range-diff.sh
+++ b/t/t3206-range-diff.sh
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ test_expect_success 'changed commit' '
 	      14
 	4:  a63e992 ! 4:  d966c5c s/12/B/
 	    @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
-	     @@
+	     @@ A
 	      9
 	      10
 	    - B
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ test_expect_success 'changed commit with sm config' '
 	      14
 	4:  a63e992 ! 4:  d966c5c s/12/B/
 	    @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
-	     @@
+	     @@ A
 	      9
 	      10
 	    - B
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ test_expect_success 'dual-coloring' '
 	:      14<RESET>
 	:<RED>4:  d966c5c <RESET><YELLOW>!<RESET><GREEN> 4:  8add5f1<RESET><YELLOW> s/12/B/<RESET>
 	:    <REVERSE><CYAN>@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@<RESET>
-	:    <CYAN> @@<RESET>
+	:    <CYAN> @@ A<RESET>
 	:      9<RESET>
 	:      10<RESET>
 	:    <REVERSE><RED>-<RESET><FAINT> BB<RESET>