diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py b/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
index 94a0db379..c2a93e0c2 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
@@ -868,6 +868,8 @@ class VThrottledLogin(VLogin):
         self.vlength = VLength("user", max_length=100)
         
     def run(self, username, password):
+        if username:
+            username = username.strip()
         username = self.vlength.run(username)
 
         self.vdelay.run()