diff --git a/aider/utils.py b/aider/utils.py
index ef56a2aa3..6ef1edb19 100644
--- a/aider/utils.py
+++ b/aider/utils.py
@@ -59,10 +59,18 @@ def try_dotdotdots(whole, part, replace):
     return whole
 
 
+def replace_part_with_missing_leading_whitespace(whole, part, replace):
+    pass
+
+
 def replace_most_similar_chunk(whole, part, replace):
     if part in whole:
         return whole.replace(part, replace)
 
+    res = replace_part_with_missing_leading_whitespace(whole, part, replace)
+    if res:
+        return res
+
     try:
         res = try_dotdotdots(whole, part, replace)
     except ValueError: