diff --git a/app/views/courses/_groups_name.html.erb b/app/views/courses/_groups_name.html.erb
index 9a57d1127..7aa47b772 100644
--- a/app/views/courses/_groups_name.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/courses/_groups_name.html.erb
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
         }
     }
     function validate_groupname_null(value1) {
-
-        if(value1.length == 0) {
+         value1 = value1.trim();
+        if(value1.length == 0 ) {
             alert('<%= l(:label_limit_groupname_null) %>');
         }
     }