diff --git a/kittens/diff/collect.py b/kittens/diff/collect.py
index 9b9fc5986..8bbb2037e 100644
--- a/kittens/diff/collect.py
+++ b/kittens/diff/collect.py
@@ -152,10 +152,13 @@ def data_for_path(path):
 
 @lru_cache(maxsize=1024)
 def lines_for_path(path):
-    data = data_for_path(path)
+    data = data_for_path(path).replace('\t', lines_for_path.replace_tab_by)
     return tuple(sanitize(data).splitlines())
 
 
+lines_for_path.replace_tab_by = ' ' * 4
+
+
 @lru_cache(maxsize=1024)
 def hash_for_path(path):
     return md5(raw_data_for_path(path)).digest()