diff --git a/src/core/PieceTable.cc b/src/core/PieceTable.cc
index 6694d74..76ea3fe 100644
--- a/src/core/PieceTable.cc
+++ b/src/core/PieceTable.cc
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ PieceTable::PieceTable(const uint8_t * file_buffer, unsigned long file_buffer_si
     start_piece->next = end_piece;
     end_piece->prev = start_piece;
     m_piece_index = 2u;
+    tabstop = 4u;
 }
 
 void PieceTable::append_initial_line_piece(uint8_t * start, uint32_t length, bool eol)
diff --git a/src/core/PieceTable.h b/src/core/PieceTable.h
index b279d5c..3600a39 100644
--- a/src/core/PieceTable.h
+++ b/src/core/PieceTable.h
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@ public:
         }
     };
 
+    Piece * start_piece;
+    Piece * end_piece;
+    uint8_t tabstop;
+
     PieceTable(const uint8_t * file_buffer, unsigned long file_buffer_size);
 
     Piece * add_piece()
@@ -85,9 +89,6 @@ public:
 
     uint32_t get_num_lines() { return m_num_lines; }
 
-    Piece * start_piece;
-    Piece * end_piece;
-
     void append_initial_line_piece(uint8_t * start, uint32_t length, bool eol);
 
     Piece * get_start_of_line(Piece * start) const;