diff --git a/src/main/java/se/bjurr/gitchangelog/plugin/GitChangelogMojo.java b/src/main/java/se/bjurr/gitchangelog/plugin/GitChangelogMojo.java
index 308b08e..fad8c95 100644
--- a/src/main/java/se/bjurr/gitchangelog/plugin/GitChangelogMojo.java
+++ b/src/main/java/se/bjurr/gitchangelog/plugin/GitChangelogMojo.java
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ public void execute() throws MojoExecutionException {
       }
       builder.withRemoveIssueFromMessageArgument(this.removeIssueFromMessage);
       if (this.isSupplied(this.ignoreCommitsIfMessageMatches)) {
-        builder.withIgnoreCommitsWithMessage(this.ignoreCommitsIfMessageMatches);
+        builder.withIgnoreCommitsWithMessage(this.ignoreCommitsIfMessageMatches.trim());
       }
       if (this.ignoreCommitsOlderThan != null) {
         builder.withIgnoreCommitsOlderThan(this.ignoreCommitsOlderThan);