diff --git a/lib/psych/scalar_scanner.rb b/lib/psych/scalar_scanner.rb
index 8cf868f8..23efffb7 100644
--- a/lib/psych/scalar_scanner.rb
+++ b/lib/psych/scalar_scanner.rb
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def parse_int string
     def parse_time string
       klass = class_loader.load 'Time'
 
-      date, time = *(string.split(/[ tT]/, 2))
+      date, time = *(string.split(/[Tt]|\s+/, 2))
       (yy, m, dd) = date.match(/^(-?\d{4})-(\d{1,2})-(\d{1,2})/).captures.map { |x| x.to_i }
       md = time.match(/(\d+:\d+:\d+)(?:\.(\d*))?\s*(Z|[-+]\d+(:\d\d)?)?/)
 
diff --git a/test/psych/test_string.rb b/test/psych/test_string.rb
index cfd235a5..39731031 100644
--- a/test/psych/test_string.rb
+++ b/test/psych/test_string.rb
@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ def test_single_quote_when_matching_date
       RUBY
     end
 
+    def test_datetime_string_with_tab_separator
+      str = "2023-12-31\t12:00:00"
+      assert_cycle str
+    end
+
     def test_plain_when_shorten_than_line_width_and_no_final_line_break
       str = "Lorem ipsum"
       yaml = Psych.dump str, line_width: 12