diff --git a/openevolve/utils/code_utils.py b/openevolve/utils/code_utils.py
index 397465fb6..2d97ef4ea 100644
--- a/openevolve/utils/code_utils.py
+++ b/openevolve/utils/code_utils.py
@@ -53,8 +53,7 @@ def apply_diff(original_code: str, diff_text: str) -> str:
     result_lines = original_lines.copy()
 
     # Extract diff blocks
-    diff_pattern = r"<<<<<<< SEARCH\n(.*?)\n=======\n(.*?)\n>>>>>>> REPLACE"
-    diff_blocks = re.findall(diff_pattern, diff_text, re.DOTALL)
+    diff_blocks = extract_diffs(diff_text)
 
     # Apply each diff block
     for search_text, replace_text in diff_blocks:
@@ -81,9 +80,9 @@ def extract_diffs(diff_text: str) -> List[Tuple[str, str]]:
     Returns:
         List of tuples (search_text, replace_text)
     """
-    diff_pattern = r"<<<<<<< SEARCH\n(.*?)\n=======\n(.*?)\n>>>>>>> REPLACE"
+    diff_pattern = r"<<<<<<< SEARCH\n(.*?)=======\n(.*?)>>>>>>> REPLACE"
     diff_blocks = re.findall(diff_pattern, diff_text, re.DOTALL)
-    return diff_blocks
+    return [(match[0].rstrip(), match[1].rstrip()) for match in diff_blocks]
 
 
 def parse_full_rewrite(llm_response: str, language: str = "python") -> Optional[str]:
diff --git a/tests/test_basic.py b/tests/test_basic.py
index 7a746e337..f8a8710b6 100644
--- a/tests/test_basic.py
+++ b/tests/test_basic.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def test_extract_diffs(self):
         """Test extracting diffs from a response"""
         diff_text = """
         Let's improve this code:
-        
+
         <<<<<<< SEARCH
         def hello():
             print("Hello")
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ def hello():
         def hello():
             print("Hello, World!")
         >>>>>>> REPLACE
-        
+
         Another change:
-        
+
         <<<<<<< SEARCH
         x = 1
         =======
@@ -43,17 +43,25 @@ def hello():
 
         diffs = extract_diffs(diff_text)
         self.assertEqual(len(diffs), 2)
-        self.assertEqual(diffs[0][0].strip(), 'def hello():\n    print("Hello")')
-        self.assertEqual(diffs[0][1].strip(), 'def hello():\n    print("Hello, World!")')
-        self.assertEqual(diffs[1][0].strip(), "x = 1")
-        self.assertEqual(diffs[1][1].strip(), "x = 2")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            diffs[0][0],
+            """        def hello():
+            print("Hello")""",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            diffs[0][1],
+            """        def hello():
+            print("Hello, World!")""",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(diffs[1][0], "        x = 1")
+        self.assertEqual(diffs[1][1], "        x = 2")
 
     def test_apply_diff(self):
         """Test applying diffs to code"""
         original_code = """
         def hello():
             print("Hello")
-            
+
         x = 1
         y = 2
         """
@@ -66,7 +74,7 @@ def hello():
         def hello():
             print("Hello, World!")
         >>>>>>> REPLACE
-        
+
         <<<<<<< SEARCH
         x = 1
         =======
@@ -77,7 +85,7 @@ def hello():
         expected_code = """
         def hello():
             print("Hello, World!")
-            
+
         x = 2
         y = 2
         """
@@ -86,8 +94,8 @@ def hello():
 
         # Normalize whitespace for comparison
         self.assertEqual(
-            result.replace(" ", "").replace("\n", ""),
-            expected_code.replace(" ", "").replace("\n", ""),
+            result,
+            expected_code,
         )