diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/ruby-mode.el b/lisp/progmodes/ruby-mode.el
index 8eadf018a67..340c689f02e 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/ruby-mode.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/ruby-mode.el
@@ -1690,7 +1690,8 @@ See `add-log-current-defun-function'."
     (when (eq (char-before) ?\})
       (delete-char -1)
       (when (save-excursion
-              (skip-chars-backward " \t")
+              (let ((n (skip-chars-backward " \t")))
+                (if (< n 0) (delete-char (- n))))
               (not (bolp)))
         (insert "\n"))
       (insert "end")
diff --git a/test/lisp/progmodes/ruby-mode-tests.el b/test/lisp/progmodes/ruby-mode-tests.el
index efbe012427f..83fcdd8aa85 100644
--- a/test/lisp/progmodes/ruby-mode-tests.el
+++ b/test/lisp/progmodes/ruby-mode-tests.el
@@ -369,7 +369,11 @@ VALUES-PLIST is a list with alternating index and value elements."
   (ruby-with-temp-buffer "foo {|b|\n}"
     (beginning-of-line)
     (ruby-toggle-block)
-    (should (string= "foo do |b|\nend" (buffer-string)))))
+    (should (string= "foo do |b|\nend" (buffer-string))))
+  (ruby-with-temp-buffer "foo {|b| b }"
+    (beginning-of-line)
+    (ruby-toggle-block)
+    (should (string= "foo do |b|\n  b\nend" (buffer-string)))))
 
 (ert-deftest ruby-toggle-block-to-brace ()
   (let ((pairs '((17 . "foo { |b| b + 2 }")