diff --git a/capa/features/extractors/viv/insn.py b/capa/features/extractors/viv/insn.py
index 1516b13e..5e83c3b2 100644
--- a/capa/features/extractors/viv/insn.py
+++ b/capa/features/extractors/viv/insn.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ from capa.features import MAX_BYTES_FEATURE_SIZE, Bytes, String, Characteristic
 from capa.features.insn import Number, Offset, Mnemonic
 from capa.features.extractors.viv.indirect_calls import NotFoundError, resolve_indirect_call
 
-
 # security cookie checks may perform non-zeroing XORs, these are expected within a certain
 # byte range within the first and returning basic blocks, this helps to reduce FP features
 SECURITY_COOKIE_BYTES_DELTA = 0x40
diff --git a/capa/features/insn.py b/capa/features/insn.py
index 5b6b16f2..f6b24b43 100644
--- a/capa/features/insn.py
+++ b/capa/features/insn.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class Number(Feature):
 
 class Offset(Feature):
     def __init__(self, value, description=None):
-        super(Offset, self).__init__([value])
+        super(Offset, self).__init__([value], description)
         self.value = value
 
     def get_args_str(self):
diff --git a/capa/render/vverbose.py b/capa/render/vverbose.py
index df204745..7a703e96 100644
--- a/capa/render/vverbose.py
+++ b/capa/render/vverbose.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def render_feature(ostream, match, feature, indent=0):
     ostream.write(rutils.bold2(feature[feature["type"]]))
 
     if "description" in feature:
-        ostream.write(" = ")
+        ostream.write(capa.rules.DESCRIPTION_SEPARATOR)
         ostream.write(feature["description"])
 
     render_locations(ostream, match)
diff --git a/capa/rules.py b/capa/rules.py
index f81cfac3..09508df2 100644
--- a/capa/rules.py
+++ b/capa/rules.py
@@ -207,22 +207,30 @@ def parse_feature(key):
         raise InvalidRule("unexpected statement: %s" % key)
 
 
+# this is the separator between a feature value and its description
+# when using the inline description syntax, like:
+#
+#     number: 42 = ENUM_FAVORITE_NUMBER
+DESCRIPTION_SEPARATOR = " = "
+
+
 def parse_description(s, value_type, description=None):
     """
     s can be an int or a string
     """
-    if value_type != "string" and isinstance(s, str) and " = " in s:
+    if value_type != "string" and isinstance(s, six.string_types) and DESCRIPTION_SEPARATOR in s:
         if description:
             raise InvalidRule(
-                'unexpected value: "%s", only one description allowed (inline description with ` = `)' % s
+                'unexpected value: "%s", only one description allowed (inline description with `%s`)'
+                % (s, DESCRIPTION_SEPARATOR)
             )
-        value, description = s.split(" = ", 1)
+        value, _, description = s.rpartition(DESCRIPTION_SEPARATOR)
         if description == "":
             raise InvalidRule('unexpected value: "%s", description cannot be empty' % s)
     else:
         value = s
 
-    if isinstance(value, str):
+    if isinstance(value, six.string_types):
         if value_type == "bytes":
             try:
                 value = codecs.decode(value.replace(" ", ""), "hex")
@@ -801,7 +809,7 @@ class RuleSet(object):
         rules_filtered = set([])
         for rule in rules:
             for k, v in rule.meta.items():
-                if isinstance(v, str) and tag in v:
+                if isinstance(v, six.string_types) and tag in v:
                     logger.debug('using rule "%s" and dependencies, found tag in meta.%s: %s', rule.name, k, v)
                     rules_filtered.update(set(capa.rules.get_rules_and_dependencies(rules, rule.name)))
                     break