diff --git a/src/Syntax/Column.php b/src/Syntax/Column.php
index aa244f9..70ddea2 100644
--- a/src/Syntax/Column.php
+++ b/src/Syntax/Column.php
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ public function getAlias()
      */
     public function setAlias($alias)
     {
-        if (0 == \strlen($alias)) {
+        if (empty($alias) || 0 == \strlen($alias)) {
             $this->alias = null;
 
             return $this;
diff --git a/src/Syntax/SyntaxFactory.php b/src/Syntax/SyntaxFactory.php
index 21032dc..9e812b9 100644
--- a/src/Syntax/SyntaxFactory.php
+++ b/src/Syntax/SyntaxFactory.php
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ public static function createColumn(array &$argument, $table = null)
         $columnAlias = \array_keys($argument);
         $columnAlias = $columnAlias[0];
 
-        if (\is_numeric($columnAlias) || \strpos($columnName, '*') !== false) {
+        if (\is_numeric($columnAlias) || (\strpos($columnName, '*') !== false && \strlen(\trim($columnName))==1)) {
             $columnAlias = null;
         }