diff --git a/spec/message.abnf b/spec/message.abnf
index 8436fb9c99..465c7fd89b 100644
--- a/spec/message.abnf
+++ b/spec/message.abnf
@@ -61,13 +61,14 @@ reserved-statement = reserved-keyword [s reserved-body] 1*([s] expression)
 reserved-keyword   = "." name
 
 ; Reserve additional sigils for use by future versions of this specification.
-reserved-annotation       = reserved-annotation-start reserved-body
+reserved-annotation       = reserved-annotation-start [[s] reserved-body]
 reserved-annotation-start = "!" / "%" / "*" / "+" / "<" / ">" / "?" / "~"
 
 ; Reserve sigils for private-use by implementations.
-private-use-annotation    = private-start reserved-body
+private-use-annotation    = private-start [[s] reserved-body]
 private-start             = "^" / "&"
-reserved-body             = *([s] 1*(reserved-char / reserved-escape / quoted))
+reserved-body             = reserved-body-part *([s] reserved-body-part)
+reserved-body-part        = reserved-char / reserved-escape / quoted
 
 ; Names and identifiers
 ; identifier matches https://www.w3.org/TR/REC-xml-names/#NT-QName
diff --git a/spec/syntax.md b/spec/syntax.md
index 3b4384c8e8..b826899751 100644
--- a/spec/syntax.md
+++ b/spec/syntax.md
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ wish to use a syntax exactly like other functions. Specifically:
 A _private-use annotation_ MAY be empty after its introducing sigil.
 
 ```abnf
-private-use-annotation = private-start reserved-body
+private-use-annotation = private-start [[s] reserved-body]
 private-start          = "^" / "&"
 ```
 
@@ -653,10 +653,11 @@ While a reserved sequence is technically "well-formed",
 unrecognized _reserved-annotations_ or _private-use-annotations_ have no meaning.
 
 ```abnf
-reserved-annotation       = reserved-annotation-start reserved-body
+reserved-annotation       = reserved-annotation-start [[s] reserved-body]
 reserved-annotation-start = "!" / "%" / "*" / "+" / "<" / ">" / "?" / "~"
 
-reserved-body             = *([s] 1*(reserved-char / reserved-escape / quoted))
+reserved-body             = reserved-body-part *([s] reserved-body-part)
+reserved-body-part        = reserved-char / reserved-escape / quoted
 ```
 
 ## Markup