diff --git a/src/uu/ls/src/ls.rs b/src/uu/ls/src/ls.rs
index 7365cb4dc83..ff3c4717500 100644
--- a/src/uu/ls/src/ls.rs
+++ b/src/uu/ls/src/ls.rs
@@ -2964,13 +2964,12 @@ fn display_item_long(
         if item.security_context(config).len() > 1 {
             // GNU `ls` uses a "." character to indicate a file with a security context,
             // but not other alternate access method.
-            output_display.extend(b".");
+            output_display.extend(b". ");
         } else if is_acl_set {
-            output_display.extend(b"+");
+            output_display.extend(b"+ ");
         } else {
-            output_display.extend(b" ");
+            output_display.extend(b"  ");
         }
-
         output_display.extend_pad_left(&display_symlink_count(md), padding.link_count);
 
         if config.long.owner {
diff --git a/tests/by-util/test_ls.rs b/tests/by-util/test_ls.rs
index 37492d80adc..339400179e0 100644
--- a/tests/by-util/test_ls.rs
+++ b/tests/by-util/test_ls.rs
@@ -1711,28 +1711,28 @@ fn test_ls_long_formats() {
     // Zero or one "." for indicating a file with security context
 
     // Regex for three names, so all of author, group and owner
-    let re_three = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+]? \d ([-0-9_a-z.A-Z]+ ){3}0").unwrap();
+    let re_three = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+ ]? \d ([-0-9_a-z.A-Z]+ ){3}0").unwrap();
 
     #[cfg(unix)]
-    let re_three_num = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+]? \d (\d+ ){3}0").unwrap();
+    let re_three_num = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+ ]? \d (\d+ ){3}0").unwrap();
 
     // Regex for two names, either:
     // - group and owner
     // - author and owner
     // - author and group
-    let re_two = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+]? \d ([-0-9_a-z.A-Z]+ ){2}0").unwrap();
+    let re_two = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+ ]? \d ([-0-9_a-z.A-Z]+ ){2}0").unwrap();
 
     #[cfg(unix)]
-    let re_two_num = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+]? \d (\d+ ){2}0").unwrap();
+    let re_two_num = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+ ]? \d (\d+ ){2}0").unwrap();
 
     // Regex for one name: author, group or owner
-    let re_one = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+]? \d [-0-9_a-z.A-Z]+ 0").unwrap();
+    let re_one = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+ ]? \d [-0-9_a-z.A-Z]+ 0").unwrap();
 
     #[cfg(unix)]
-    let re_one_num = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+]? \d \d+ 0").unwrap();
+    let re_one_num = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+ ]? \d \d+ 0").unwrap();
 
     // Regex for no names
-    let re_zero = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+]? \d 0").unwrap();
+    let re_zero = Regex::new(r"[xrw-]{9}[.+ ]? \d 0").unwrap();
 
     scene
         .ucmd()