diff --git a/man/systemd.preset.xml b/man/systemd.preset.xml
index 30c838b3d0..795da35ec8 100644
--- a/man/systemd.preset.xml
+++ b/man/systemd.preset.xml
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@
     either the word <literal>enable</literal> or
     <literal>disable</literal> followed by a space and a unit name
     (possibly with shell style wildcards), separated by newlines.
-    Empty lines and lines whose first non-whitespace character is # or
-    ; are ignored.</para>
+    Empty lines and lines whose first non-whitespace character is <literal>#</literal> or
+    <literal>;</literal> are ignored.</para>
 
     <para>Presets must refer to the "real" unit file, and not to any aliases. See
     <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd.unit</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum></citerefentry>