diff --git a/lua/precognition/init.lua b/lua/precognition/init.lua
index e7e3f47..e333df0 100644
--- a/lua/precognition/init.lua
+++ b/lua/precognition/init.lua
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ local function display_marks()
         })
 
         for _, hint in ipairs(inlays_hints) do
-            local length, ws_offset = utils.calc_ws_offset(hint, tab_width)
+            local length, ws_offset = utils.calc_ws_offset(hint, tab_width, vim.api.nvim_get_current_line())
             table.insert(extra_padding, { start = ws_offset, length = length })
         end
     end
diff --git a/lua/precognition/utils.lua b/lua/precognition/utils.lua
index 84d3799..abcc515 100644
--- a/lua/precognition/utils.lua
+++ b/lua/precognition/utils.lua
@@ -50,17 +50,18 @@ function M.create_pad_array(len, str)
 end
 
 ---calculates the white space offset of a partial string
----@param hint any
+---@param hint vim.lsp.inlay_hint.get.ret
 ---@param tab_width integer
+---@param current_line string
 ---@return integer
 ---@return integer
-function M.calc_ws_offset(hint, tab_width)
+function M.calc_ws_offset(hint, tab_width, current_line)
     -- + 1 here because of trailing padding
     local length = #hint.inlay_hint.label[1].value + 1
     local start = hint.inlay_hint.position.character
-    local unexpanded = vim.api.nvim_get_current_line()
-    local prefix = vim.fn.strcharpart(unexpanded, 0, start)
+    local prefix = vim.fn.strcharpart(current_line, 0, start)
     local expanded = string.gsub(prefix, "\t", string.rep(" ", tab_width))
+    vim.print(expanded)
     local ws_offset = vim.fn.strcharlen(expanded)
     return length, ws_offset
 end
diff --git a/tests/precognition/virtline_spec.lua b/tests/precognition/virtline_spec.lua
index 1756763..78fbca2 100644
--- a/tests/precognition/virtline_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/precognition/virtline_spec.lua
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ describe("Build Virtual Line", function()
 
     it("example virtual line with whitespace padding", function()
         local line = "    abc def"
-        -- abc def
         local cursorcol = 5
         local tab_width = vim.bo.expandtab and vim.bo.shiftwidth or vim.bo.tabstop
         local cur_line = line:gsub("\t", string.rep(" ", tab_width))
@@ -109,6 +108,56 @@ describe("Build Virtual Line", function()
         eq("    ^ e w $", virt_line[1][1])
         eq(#line, #virt_line[1][1])
     end)
+
+    it("can build a line with extra padding", function()
+        local line = "    abc def"
+        local cursorcol = 5
+        local tab_width = vim.bo.expandtab and vim.bo.shiftwidth or vim.bo.tabstop
+        local cur_line = line:gsub("\t", string.rep(" ", tab_width))
+        local line_len = vim.fn.strcharlen(cur_line)
+        local extra_padding = { { start = 4, length = 4 } }
+
+        local virt_line = precognition.build_virt_line({
+            w = hm.next_word_boundary(cur_line, cursorcol, line_len, false),
+            e = hm.end_of_word(cur_line, cursorcol, line_len, false),
+            b = hm.prev_word_boundary(cur_line, cursorcol, line_len, false),
+            Caret = hm.line_start_non_whitespace(cur_line, cursorcol, line_len),
+            Dollar = hm.line_end(cur_line, cursorcol, line_len),
+        }, line_len, extra_padding)
+
+        local total_added = 0
+        for _, pad in ipairs(extra_padding) do
+            total_added = total_added + pad.length
+        end
+
+        eq("        ^ e w $", virt_line[1][1])
+        eq(#line + total_added, #virt_line[1][1])
+    end)
+
+    it("can build a line with multiple extra padddings", function()
+        local line = "    abc def"
+        local cursorcol = 5
+        local tab_width = vim.bo.expandtab and vim.bo.shiftwidth or vim.bo.tabstop
+        local cur_line = line:gsub("\t", string.rep(" ", tab_width))
+        local line_len = vim.fn.strcharlen(cur_line)
+        local extra_padding = { { start = 4, length = 4 }, { start = 10, length = 5 } }
+
+        local virt_line = precognition.build_virt_line({
+            w = hm.next_word_boundary(cur_line, cursorcol, line_len, false),
+            e = hm.end_of_word(cur_line, cursorcol, line_len, false),
+            b = hm.prev_word_boundary(cur_line, cursorcol, line_len, false),
+            Caret = hm.line_start_non_whitespace(cur_line, cursorcol, line_len),
+            Dollar = hm.line_end(cur_line, cursorcol, line_len),
+        }, line_len, extra_padding)
+
+        local total_added = 0
+        for _, pad in ipairs(extra_padding) do
+            total_added = total_added + pad.length
+        end
+
+        eq("        ^ e w      $", virt_line[1][1])
+        eq(#line + total_added, #virt_line[1][1])
+    end)
 end)
 
 describe("Priority", function()