diff --git a/sphinx/domains/python.py b/sphinx/domains/python.py
index 4faf3bd38..6646c85be 100644
--- a/sphinx/domains/python.py
+++ b/sphinx/domains/python.py
@@ -676,7 +676,9 @@ class PyVariable(PyObject):
         typ = self.options.get('type')
         if typ:
             annotations = _parse_annotation(typ, self.env)
-            signode += addnodes.desc_annotation(typ, '', nodes.Text(': '), *annotations)
+            signode += addnodes.desc_annotation(typ, '',
+                                                addnodes.desc_sig_punctuation('', ':'),
+                                                addnodes.desc_sig_space(), *annotations)
 
         value = self.options.get('value')
         if value:
diff --git a/tests/test_domain_py.py b/tests/test_domain_py.py
index 840ba6828..edab4bfcc 100644
--- a/tests/test_domain_py.py
+++ b/tests/test_domain_py.py
@@ -534,7 +534,8 @@ def test_pydata_signature(app):
     doctree = restructuredtext.parse(app, text)
     assert_node(doctree, (addnodes.index,
                           [desc, ([desc_signature, ([desc_name, "version"],
-                                                    [desc_annotation, (": ",
+                                                    [desc_annotation, ([desc_sig_punctuation, ':'],
+                                                                       desc_sig_space,
                                                                        [pending_xref, "int"])],
                                                     [desc_annotation, " = 1"])],
                                   desc_content)]))
@@ -560,7 +561,8 @@ def test_pydata_with_union_type_operator(app):
     doctree = restructuredtext.parse(app, text)
     assert_node(doctree[1][0],
                 ([desc_name, "version"],
-                 [desc_annotation, (": ",
+                 [desc_annotation, ([desc_sig_punctuation, ':'],
+                                    desc_sig_space,
                                     [pending_xref, "int"],
                                     desc_sig_space,
                                     [desc_sig_punctuation, "|"],
@@ -596,10 +598,11 @@ def test_pydata(app):
                           addnodes.index,
                           [desc, ([desc_signature, ([desc_addname, "example."],
                                                     [desc_name, "var"],
-                                                    [desc_annotation, (": ",
+                                                    [desc_annotation, ([desc_sig_punctuation, ':'],
+                                                                       desc_sig_space,
                                                                        [pending_xref, "int"])])],
                                   [desc_content, ()])]))
-    assert_node(doctree[3][0][2][1], pending_xref, **{"py:module": "example"})
+    assert_node(doctree[3][0][2][2], pending_xref, **{"py:module": "example"})
     assert 'example.var' in domain.objects
     assert domain.objects['example.var'] == ('index', 'example.var', 'data', False)