diff --git a/R/row_spec.R b/R/row_spec.R
index 81b0190..c19044c 100644
--- a/R/row_spec.R
+++ b/R/row_spec.R
@@ -68,12 +68,16 @@
   target_row <- table_info$contents[row + 1]
   new_row <- latex_row_cells(target_row)
   if (bold) {
-    new_row <- paste0("\\{bfseries", new_row, "}")
+    new_row <- lapply(new_row, function(x) {
+      paste0("\\\\bfseries{", x, "}")
+    })
   }
   if (italic) {
-    new_row <- paste0("\\{em", new_row, "}")
+    new_row <- lapply(new_row, function(x) {
+      paste0("\\\\em{", x, "}")
+    })
   }
-  new_row <- paste(new_row, collapse = " & ")
+  new_row <- paste(unlist(new_row), collapse = " & ")
 
   out <- sub(target_row, new_row, as.character(kable_input), perl = T)
   out <- structure(out, format = "latex", class = "knitr_kable")
diff --git a/tests/visual_tests/column_width_pdf.Rmd b/tests/visual_tests/column_row_spec_pdf.Rmd
similarity index 89%
rename from tests/visual_tests/column_width_pdf.Rmd
rename to tests/visual_tests/column_row_spec_pdf.Rmd
index 374cc90..f71c696 100644
--- a/tests/visual_tests/column_width_pdf.Rmd
+++ b/tests/visual_tests/column_row_spec_pdf.Rmd
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 ---
 title: "Untitled"
-output: pdf_document
+output: 
+  pdf_document:
+    keep_tex: true
 ---
 
 ```{r setup, include=FALSE}
@@ -40,7 +42,14 @@
 kable(dt, "latex", booktabs = T) %>%
   kable_styling(latex_options = "scale_down") %>%
   column_spec(2, "30em", bold = T) %>%
-  column_spec(4, "3cm", italic = T) %>%
-    group_rows("Group1", 1, 2)
+  column_spec(4, "3cm", italic = T)
+```
+
+```{r}
+dt <- mtcars[1:5, 1:6]
+
+kable(dt, "latex", booktabs = T) %>%
+  column_spec(7, bold = T) %>%
+  row_spec(5, bold = T)
 ```