diff --git a/pytorch3d/io/obj_io.py b/pytorch3d/io/obj_io.py
index 9e2e2e7f..36b6ff53 100644
--- a/pytorch3d/io/obj_io.py
+++ b/pytorch3d/io/obj_io.py
@@ -472,26 +472,26 @@ def _parse_obj(f, data_dir: str):
                 materials_idx = len(material_names) - 1
             else:
                 materials_idx = material_names.index(material_name)
-        elif line.startswith("v "):  # Line is a vertex.
+        elif tokens[:1] == ["v"]:  # Line is a vertex.
             vert = [float(x) for x in tokens[1:4]]
             if len(vert) != 3:
                 msg = "Vertex %s does not have 3 values. Line: %s"
                 raise ValueError(msg % (str(vert), str(line)))
             verts.append(vert)
-        elif line.startswith("vt "):  # Line is a texture.
+        elif tokens[:1] == ["vt"]:  # Line is a texture.
             tx = [float(x) for x in tokens[1:3]]
             if len(tx) != 2:
                 raise ValueError(
                     "Texture %s does not have 2 values. Line: %s" % (str(tx), str(line))
                 )
             verts_uvs.append(tx)
-        elif line.startswith("vn "):  # Line is a normal.
+        elif tokens[:1] == ["vn"]:  # Line is a normal.
             norm = [float(x) for x in tokens[1:4]]
             if len(norm) != 3:
                 msg = "Normal %s does not have 3 values. Line: %s"
                 raise ValueError(msg % (str(norm), str(line)))
             normals.append(norm)
-        elif line.startswith("f "):  # Line is a face.
+        elif tokens[:1] == ["f"]:  # Line is a face.
             # Update face properties info.
             _parse_face(
                 line,
diff --git a/tests/test_io_obj.py b/tests/test_io_obj.py
index eb379ea5..1d483640 100644
--- a/tests/test_io_obj.py
+++ b/tests/test_io_obj.py
@@ -319,6 +319,29 @@ class TestMeshObjIO(TestCaseMixin, unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertTrue(materials is None)
             self.assertTrue(tex_maps is None)
 
+    def test_load_obj_tab_separated(self):
+        # Tabs are whitespace too, including between the keyword and the values.
+        obj_file = "\n".join(
+            [
+                "v\t0.1\t0.2\t0.3",
+                "v 0.2 0.3 0.4",
+                "v\t0.3 0.4 0.5",
+                "vt\t0.5\t0.5",
+                "vn\t0.0\t0.0\t1.0",
+                "f\t1/1/1\t2/1/1\t3/1/1",
+            ]
+        )
+        verts, faces, aux = load_obj(StringIO(obj_file))
+        expected_verts = torch.tensor(
+            [[0.1, 0.2, 0.3], [0.2, 0.3, 0.4], [0.3, 0.4, 0.5]], dtype=torch.float32
+        )
+        self.assertClose(verts, expected_verts)
+        self.assertClose(faces.verts_idx, torch.tensor([[0, 1, 2]]))
+        self.assertClose(faces.textures_idx, torch.tensor([[0, 0, 0]]))
+        self.assertClose(faces.normals_idx, torch.tensor([[0, 0, 0]]))
+        self.assertClose(aux.verts_uvs, torch.tensor([[0.5, 0.5]]))
+        self.assertClose(aux.normals, torch.tensor([[0.0, 0.0, 1.0]]))
+
     def test_load_obj_error_textures(self):
         obj_file = "\n".join(["vt 0.1"])
         with NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".obj") as f: