diff --git a/ts/components/session/LeftPaneContactSection.tsx b/ts/components/session/LeftPaneContactSection.tsx
index ad84635b7..e78c14005 100644
--- a/ts/components/session/LeftPaneContactSection.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/session/LeftPaneContactSection.tsx
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ export class LeftPaneContactSection extends React.Component<Props, State> {
   }
 
   private handleOnAddContact() {
-    const sessionID = this.state.addContactRecipientID;
+    const sessionID = this.state.addContactRecipientID.trim();
     const error = validateNumber(sessionID, window.i18n);
 
     if (error) {
diff --git a/ts/components/session/LeftPaneMessageSection.tsx b/ts/components/session/LeftPaneMessageSection.tsx
index 16bc9871c..0f7eba2ca 100644
--- a/ts/components/session/LeftPaneMessageSection.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/session/LeftPaneMessageSection.tsx
@@ -278,6 +278,7 @@ export class LeftPaneMessageSection extends React.Component<Props, any> {
     }
     let pubkey: string;
     pubkey = this.state.pubKeyPasted || this.props.searchTerm;
+    pubkey = pubkey.trim();
 
     const error = validateNumber(pubkey);
     if (!error) {