diff --git a/src/commands/math/commands.js b/src/commands/math/commands.js
index f4e1381..1538c51 100644
--- a/src/commands/math/commands.js
+++ b/src/commands/math/commands.js
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@
 var SupSub = P(MathCommand, function(_, super_) {
   _.ctrlSeq = '_{...}^{...}';
   _.createLeftOf = function(cursor) {
-    if (!cursor[L] && cursor.options.supSubsRequireOperand) return;
+    if (!this.replacedFragment && !cursor[L] && cursor.options.supSubsRequireOperand) return;
     return super_.createLeftOf.apply(this, arguments);
   };
   _.contactWeld = function(cursor) {
diff --git a/test/unit/typing.test.js b/test/unit/typing.test.js
index 737d73f..c3c89f1 100644
--- a/test/unit/typing.test.js
+++ b/test/unit/typing.test.js
@@ -1039,6 +1039,9 @@
       assert.equal(mq.typedText('^').latex(), 'x^{^{ }}');
       assert.equal(mq.typedText('2').latex(), 'x^{^2}');
       assert.equal(mq.typedText('n').latex(), 'x^{^{2n}}');
+      mq.latex('');
+      assert.equal(mq.typedText('2').latex(), '2');
+      assert.equal(mq.keystroke('Shift-Left').typedText('^').latex(), '^2');
 
       mq.latex('');
       MQ.config({ supSubsRequireOperand: true });
@@ -1057,6 +1060,9 @@
       assert.equal(mq.typedText('^').latex(), 'x^{ }');
       assert.equal(mq.typedText('2').latex(), 'x^2');
       assert.equal(mq.typedText('n').latex(), 'x^{2n}');
+      mq.latex('');
+      assert.equal(mq.typedText('2').latex(), '2');
+      assert.equal(mq.keystroke('Shift-Left').typedText('^').latex(), '^2');
     });
   });
 });