diff --git a/app/controllers/applied_project_controller.rb b/app/controllers/applied_project_controller.rb
index 41f069020..6bcffddf8 100644
--- a/app/controllers/applied_project_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/applied_project_controller.rb
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class AppliedProjectController < ApplicationController
     else
       @project = Project.find(params[:project_id])
     end
-    if !@project || params[:invite_code].upcase.to_s != @project.invite_code
+    if !@project || params[:invite_code].strip.upcase.to_s != @project.invite_code
       @flag = 1
     elsif User.current.member_of?(@project)
       @flag = 2