diff --git a/rest_framework/compat.py b/rest_framework/compat.py
index 239ef3def..ce821402e 100644
--- a/rest_framework/compat.py
+++ b/rest_framework/compat.py
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ if markdown is not None and pygments is not None:
 
     class CodeBlockPreprocessor(Preprocessor):
         pattern = re.compile(
-            r'^\s*``` ([^\n]+)\n(.+?)^\s*```', re.M|re.S)
+            r'^\s*``` *([^\n]+)\n(.+?)^\s*```', re.M|re.S)
 
         formatter = HtmlFormatter()
 
diff --git a/tests/test_description.py b/tests/test_description.py
index 3e9034344..4804168ab 100644
--- a/tests/test_description.py
+++ b/tests/test_description.py
@@ -112,7 +112,6 @@ class TestViewNamesAndDescriptions(TestCase):
             }]
             ```"""
 
-        print("MOCK:\n[%s]" % MockView().get_view_description())
         assert MockView().get_view_description() == DESCRIPTION
 
     def test_view_description_can_be_empty(self):