diff --git a/src/org/xcri/presentation/Venue.java b/src/org/xcri/presentation/Venue.java
index 8cf5248..653abde 100644
--- a/src/org/xcri/presentation/Venue.java
+++ b/src/org/xcri/presentation/Venue.java
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ public Element toXml() {
 	public void fromXml(Element element) throws InvalidElementException {
 		super.fromXml(element);
 	
-		if (this.getValue()!=""){
+		if (!this.getValue().trim().isEmpty()){
 			throw new InvalidElementException("venue: If a <venue> element contains any text content, Aggregators MUST treat the <venue> element as being in error.");
 		}