diff --git a/src/wikitextprocessor/core.py b/src/wikitextprocessor/core.py
index fc8aa775..caafefec 100644
--- a/src/wikitextprocessor/core.py
+++ b/src/wikitextprocessor/core.py
@@ -1594,7 +1594,7 @@ def expander(arg: str) -> str:
         # Remove LanguageConverter markups:
         # https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Writing_systems/Syntax
         # but ignore `-{}-` template argument placeholder: #59
-        if not pre_expand and self.lang_code == "zh" and text != "-{}-":
+        if not pre_expand and self.lang_code in ["zh", "ku"] and text != "-{}-":
             expanded = expanded.replace("-{", "").replace("}-", "")
 
         return expanded