--- usr.bin/sed/compile.c	(revision 307676)
+++ usr.bin/sed/compile.c	(working copy)
@@ -746,6 +746,9 @@ 
 	while (cu_fgets(lbuf, sizeof(lbuf), NULL) != NULL) {
 		op = s = text + size;
 		p = lbuf;
+#ifdef LEGACY_BSDSED_COMPAT
+		EATSPACE();
+#endif
 		for (esc_nl = 0; *p != '\0'; p++) {
 			if (*p == '\\' && p[1] != '\0' && *++p == '\n')
 				esc_nl = 1;