diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 638ce37..f78f1a7 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ export default function CbioPortal ({ requestOpts = false } = {}) {
  * @return {Array}
  */
 function parseArray (x) {
-  return Array.isArray(x) ? x : x.split(',');
+  x = Array.isArray(x) ? x : x.split(','); //eslint-disable-line no-param-reassign
+  return x.filter(z => !!z).map(y => y.trim());
 }
 
 /**