diff --git a/scribus/hyphenator.cpp b/scribus/hyphenator.cpp
index 77e3d0f9d..17d2614d5 100644
--- a/scribus/hyphenator.cpp
+++ b/scribus/hyphenator.cpp
@@ -170,6 +170,9 @@ void Hyphenator::slotHyphenate(PageItem* it)
 			QString wordLower = QLocale(style.language()).toLower(word);
 			if (wordLower.contains(SpecialChars::SHYPHEN))
 				continue;
+			// skip words with a soft hyphen in front of them
+			if (firstC > 0 && text.at(firstC - 1) == SpecialChars::SHYPHEN)
+				continue;
 
 			bool ok = loadDict(style.language());
 			if (!ok)
