diff -r f338c19b0a6d roundup/mailgw.py
--- a/roundup/mailgw.py	Fri Jun 29 16:34:42 2012 +0200
+++ b/roundup/mailgw.py	Fri Jun 29 14:48:57 2012 -0400
@@ -1643,8 +1643,10 @@
             errors.append(_('not of form [arg=value,value,...;'
                 'arg=value,value,...]'))
             return (errors, props)
+        # get rid of extra whitespace
+        propname = propname.strip()
+        value = value.strip()
         # convert the value to a hyperdb-usable value
-        propname = propname.strip()
         try:
             props[propname] = hyperdb.rawToHyperdb(self.db, cl, nodeid,
                 propname, value)