diff --git a/.github/workflows/touchstone-comment.yaml b/.github/workflows/touchstone-comment.yaml
index a1ce2e5be..c3b8eea04 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/touchstone-comment.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/touchstone-comment.yaml
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@ jobs:
       ${{ github.event.workflow_run.event == 'pull_request' &&
       github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success' }}
     steps:
-      - uses: lorenzwalthert/touchstone/actions/comment@add-pat
+      - uses: lorenzwalthert/touchstone/actions/comment@main
         with:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/touchstone-receive.yaml b/.github/workflows/touchstone-receive.yaml
index 1ef5b9c8d..bd4ee2b12 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/touchstone-receive.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/touchstone-receive.yaml
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ jobs:
       RSPM: ${{ matrix.config.rspm }}
       GITHUB_PAT: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
     steps:
-      - uses: lorenzwalthert/touchstone/actions/receive@add-pat
+      - uses: lorenzwalthert/touchstone/actions/receive@main
         with:
           cache-version: 1
           benchmarking_repo: ${{ matrix.config.benchmarking_repo }}
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 1facf0034..401bf68a3 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@
 * `Warning: Unknown or uninitialised column:` was fixed (#885).
 * Unaligned expressions with quoted key (e.g. `c("x" = 2)`) are now correctly
   detected (#881).
+* function calls with unequal number of token on different lines are no longer 
+  deemed aligned if there are arbitrary spaces around the tokens on the lines 
+  with most tokens (#902).
 * ensure a trailing blank line also if the input is cached (#867).
 * Preserve trailing blank line in roxygen examples to simplify concatenation of
   examples (#880).
diff --git a/R/detect-alignment.R b/R/detect-alignment.R
index 49093011f..5d2ef99fb 100644
--- a/R/detect-alignment.R
+++ b/R/detect-alignment.R
@@ -84,7 +84,10 @@ token_is_on_aligned_line <- function(pd_flat) {
   if (any(starting_with_comma)) {
     return(FALSE)
   }
-  pd_is_multi_line <- map_lgl(pd_by_line, ~ any(.x$multi_line > 0L, na.rm = TRUE))
+  pd_is_multi_line <- map_lgl(
+    pd_by_line,
+    ~ any(.x$multi_line > 0L, na.rm = TRUE)
+  )
   if (any(pd_is_multi_line)) {
     return(FALSE)
   }
@@ -98,9 +101,9 @@ token_is_on_aligned_line <- function(pd_flat) {
     alignment_ensure_trailing_comma()
   # now, pd only contains arguments separated by values, ideal for iterating
   # over columns.
-
   n_cols <- map_int(pd_by_line, ~ sum(.x$token == "','"))
   previous_line <- 0
+  current_col <- 0
   start_eval <- ifelse(alignment_col1_all_named(pd_by_line), 1, 2)
   for (column in seq2(1, max(n_cols))) {
     by_line <- alignment_serialize_column(pd_by_line, column) %>%
@@ -109,33 +112,47 @@ token_is_on_aligned_line <- function(pd_flat) {
       trimws(which = "right")
     # check 1: match by comma
     # might have fewer lines in subsequent columns.
-    current_col <- nchar(by_line)
+    max_previous_col <- max(current_col)
+
+    # first col has no leading ,
+    current_col <- nchar(by_line) - as.integer(column > 1)
     if (column > 1) {
-      previous_line <- previous_line[intersect(names(previous_line), names(by_line))]
+      previous_line <- previous_line[
+        intersect(names(previous_line), names(by_line))
+      ]
       # must add previous columns, as first column might not align
       current_col <- current_col + previous_line
     }
 
     is_aligned <- length(unique(current_col)) == 1L
-    if (!is_aligned) {
+    if (!is_aligned || length(current_col) < 2) {
       # check 2: left aligned after ,
-      current_col <- nchar(gsub("^(,[\\s\\t]*)[^ ]*.*$", "\\1", by_line, perl = TRUE))
+      current_col <- "^(,[\\s\\t]*)[^ ]*.*$" %>%
+        gsub("\\1", by_line, perl = TRUE) %>%
+        nchar() %>%
+        magrittr::subtract(1)
 
       if (column > 1) {
         # must add previous columns, as first column might not align
-        current_col <- current_col + previous_line
+        current_col <- previous_line + current_col
       }
-      is_aligned <- length(unique(current_col)) == 1L
+      if (length(current_col) > 1) {
+        is_aligned <- length(unique(current_col)) == 1L
+      } else {
+        is_aligned <- current_col - max_previous_col == 1
+        current_col <- max_previous_col + current_col
+      }
+
       if (is_aligned) {
         # if left aligned after ,
         start_eval <- 2
       }
     }
     if (is_aligned) {
-      previous_line <- previous_line + nchar(by_line)
+      previous_line <- current_col
       next
     }
-    # check 3: match by = (no extra spaces around it allowed.)
+    # check 3: match by = (no extra spaces around it allowed)
     # match left aligned after =
     start_after_eq <- regexpr("= [^ ]", by_line)
     names(start_after_eq) <- names(by_line)
@@ -145,14 +162,17 @@ token_is_on_aligned_line <- function(pd_flat) {
       if (length(start_after_eq) == 0) {
         return(FALSE)
       }
-      # when match via comma unsuccessful, matching by = must yield at least one =
+      # when match via , unsuccessful, matching by = must yield at least one =
       if (column == 1) {
         current_col <- start_after_eq
       } else {
         current_col <- start_after_eq +
           previous_line[intersect(names(previous_line), names(start_after_eq))]
       }
-      is_aligned <- length(unique(current_col)) == 1 && length(start_after_eq) > 1
+      is_aligned <- all(
+        length(unique(current_col)) == 1,
+        length(start_after_eq) > 1
+      )
       if (!is_aligned) {
         return(FALSE)
       }
diff --git a/tests/testthat/alignment/cols-with-one-row-in.R b/tests/testthat/alignment/cols-with-one-row-in.R
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a4d47da45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/alignment/cols-with-one-row-in.R
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+c(
+  "x",       "z",
+  "cgjhg", "thi", "z"
+)
+
+
+c(
+  "x",       "z",
+  "cgjhg",  "thi", "z"
+)
+
+
+c(
+  "x", "y", "z",  "m", "n",  "o", "p",
+  "c", "d"
+)
diff --git a/tests/testthat/alignment/cols-with-one-row-in_tree b/tests/testthat/alignment/cols-with-one-row-in_tree
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f821af25e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/alignment/cols-with-one-row-in_tree
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+ROOT (token: short_text [lag_newlines/spaces] {pos_id})
+ ¦--expr: c(
+   [0/0] {1}                             
+ ¦   ¦--expr: c [0/0] {3}                              
+ ¦   ¦   °--SYMBOL_FUNCTION_CALL: c [0/0] {2}          
+ ¦   ¦--'(': ( [0/2] {4}                               
+ ¦   ¦--expr: "x" [1/0] {6}                            
+ ¦   ¦   °--STR_CONST: "x" [0/0] {5}                   
+ ¦   ¦--',': , [0/7] {7}                               
+ ¦   ¦--expr: "z" [0/0] {9}                            
+ ¦   ¦   °--STR_CONST: "z" [0/0] {8}                   
+ ¦   ¦--',': , [0/2] {10}                              
+ ¦   ¦--expr: "cgjh [1/0] {12}                         
+ ¦   ¦   °--STR_CONST: "cgjh [0/0] {11}                
+ ¦   ¦--',': , [0/1] {13}                              
+ ¦   ¦--expr: "thi" [0/0] {15}                         
+ ¦   ¦   °--STR_CONST: "thi" [0/0] {14}                
+ ¦   ¦--',': , [0/1] {16}                              
+ ¦   ¦--expr: "z" [0/0] {18}                           
+ ¦   ¦   °--STR_CONST: "z" [0/0] {17}                  
+ ¦   °--')': ) [1/0] {19}                              
+ ¦--expr: c(
+   [3/0] {20}                            
+ ¦   ¦--expr: c [0/0] {22}                             
+ ¦   ¦   °--SYMBOL_FUNCTION_CALL: c [0/0] {21}         
+ ¦   ¦--'(': ( [0/2] {23}                              
+ ¦   ¦--expr: "x" [1/0] {25}                           
+ ¦   ¦   °--STR_CONST: "x" [0/0] {24}                  
+ ¦   ¦--',': , [0/7] {26}                              
+ ¦   ¦--expr: "z" [0/0] {28}                           
+ ¦   ¦   °--STR_CONST: "z" [0/0] {27}                  
+ ¦   ¦--',': , [0/2] {29}                              
+ ¦   ¦--expr: "cgjh [1/0] {31}                         
+ ¦   ¦   °--STR_CONST: "cgjh [0/0] {30}                
+ ¦   ¦--',': , [0/2] {32}                              
+ ¦   ¦--expr: "thi" [0/0] {34}                         
+ ¦   ¦   °--STR_CONST: "thi" [0/0] {33}                
+ ¦   ¦--',': , [0/1] {35}                              
+ ¦   ¦--expr: "z" [0/0] {37}                           
+ ¦   ¦   °--STR_CONST: "z" [0/0] {36}                  
+ ¦   °--')': ) [1/0] {38}                              
+ °--expr: c(
+   [3/0] {39}                            
+     ¦--expr: c [0/0] {41}                             
+     ¦   °--SYMBOL_FUNCTION_CALL: c [0/0] {40}         
+     ¦--'(': ( [0/2] {42}                              
+     ¦--expr: "x" [1/0] {44}                           
+     ¦   °--STR_CONST: "x" [0/0] {43}                  
+     ¦--',': , [0/1] {45}                              
+     ¦--expr: "y" [0/0] {47}                           
+     ¦   °--STR_CONST: "y" [0/0] {46}                  
+     ¦--',': , [0/1] {48}                              
+     ¦--expr: "z" [0/0] {50}                           
+     ¦   °--STR_CONST: "z" [0/0] {49}                  
+     ¦--',': , [0/2] {51}                              
+     ¦--expr: "m" [0/0] {53}                           
+     ¦   °--STR_CONST: "m" [0/0] {52}                  
+     ¦--',': , [0/1] {54}                              
+     ¦--expr: "n" [0/0] {56}                           
+     ¦   °--STR_CONST: "n" [0/0] {55}                  
+     ¦--',': , [0/2] {57}                              
+     ¦--expr: "o" [0/0] {59}                           
+     ¦   °--STR_CONST: "o" [0/0] {58}                  
+     ¦--',': , [0/1] {60}                              
+     ¦--expr: "p" [0/0] {62}                           
+     ¦   °--STR_CONST: "p" [0/0] {61}                  
+     ¦--',': , [0/2] {63}                              
+     ¦--expr: "c" [1/0] {65}                           
+     ¦   °--STR_CONST: "c" [0/0] {64}                  
+     ¦--',': , [0/1] {66}                              
+     ¦--expr: "d" [0/0] {68}                           
+     ¦   °--STR_CONST: "d" [0/0] {67}                  
+     °--')': ) [1/0] {69}                              
diff --git a/tests/testthat/alignment/cols-with-one-row-out.R b/tests/testthat/alignment/cols-with-one-row-out.R
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..30893a93e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/alignment/cols-with-one-row-out.R
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+c(
+  "x",       "z",
+  "cgjhg", "thi", "z"
+)
+
+
+c(
+  "x", "z",
+  "cgjhg", "thi", "z"
+)
+
+
+c(
+  "x", "y", "z", "m", "n", "o", "p",
+  "c", "d"
+)
diff --git a/tests/testthat/alignment/named-in.R b/tests/testthat/alignment/named-in.R
index 1349ffae6..3a4eacf4e 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/alignment/named-in.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/alignment/named-in.R
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ call(
 # algorithm: aligned. human: aligned.
 call(
   x  = 1,
-  xy = 2,   n    = 33, z = "333"
+  xy = 2, n = 33, z = "333"
 )
 
 # algorithm: aligned. human: aligned.
diff --git a/tests/testthat/alignment/named-in_tree b/tests/testthat/alignment/named-in_tree
index 90283b1c8..2a569ab09 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/alignment/named-in_tree
+++ b/tests/testthat/alignment/named-in_tree
@@ -255,8 +255,8 @@ ROOT (token: short_text [lag_newlines/spaces] {pos_id})
  ¦   ¦--EQ_SUB: = [0/1] {254}                          
  ¦   ¦--expr: 2 [0/0] {256}                            
  ¦   ¦   °--NUM_CONST: 2 [0/0] {255}                   
- ¦   ¦--',': , [0/3] {257}                             
- ¦   ¦--SYMBOL_SUB: n [0/4] {258}                      
+ ¦   ¦--',': , [0/1] {257}                             
+ ¦   ¦--SYMBOL_SUB: n [0/1] {258}                      
  ¦   ¦--EQ_SUB: = [0/1] {259}                          
  ¦   ¦--expr: 33 [0/0] {261}                           
  ¦   ¦   °--NUM_CONST: 33 [0/0] {260}                  
diff --git a/tests/testthat/alignment/named-out.R b/tests/testthat/alignment/named-out.R
index 7fda760a3..5fd8e9507 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/alignment/named-out.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/alignment/named-out.R
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ call(
 # algorithm: aligned. human: aligned.
 call(
   x  = 1,
-  xy = 2,   n    = 33, z = "333"
+  xy = 2, n = 33, z = "333"
 )
 
 # algorithm: aligned. human: aligned.