diff --git a/R/kable_styling.R b/R/kable_styling.R
index 1dce2be..a721c34 100644
--- a/R/kable_styling.R
+++ b/R/kable_styling.R
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@
                              position = c("center", "left", "right",
                                           "float_left", "float_right"),
                              font_size = NULL,
-                             repeat_header_text = "(continued)") {
+                             repeat_header_text = "\\textit{(continued)}") {
 
   latex_options <- match.arg(
     latex_options,
diff --git a/tests/visual_tests/longtable.Rmd b/tests/visual_tests/longtable.Rmd
index 382e81e..fa0668a 100644
--- a/tests/visual_tests/longtable.Rmd
+++ b/tests/visual_tests/longtable.Rmd
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 ```
 
 ```{r}
-aaa <- kable(dt, "latex", longtable = T, caption="table2", booktabs = T) %>%
+kable(dt, "latex", longtable = T, caption="table2", booktabs = T) %>%
   add_header_above(c(" ", "a" = 6, "b" = 5)) %>%
   kable_styling(latex_options = "repeat_header", repeat_header_text = "(...)")
 ```