diff --git a/src/engine/ConfigParsing/EffectsParser.java b/src/engine/ConfigParsing/EffectsParser.java
index ec7d2f23..f96b56c8 100644
--- a/src/engine/ConfigParsing/EffectsParser.java
+++ b/src/engine/ConfigParsing/EffectsParser.java
@@ -45,9 +45,10 @@ public class EffectsParser {
     private static EffectEntry parseEffectEntry(String effectData) {
         EffectEntry effectEntry = new EffectEntry();
 
-        // Remove all lines that contain a #
+        // Remove all lines that contain a # and leading/trailing blanks
 
         effectData = effectData.replaceAll("(?m)^.*#.*\r?\n?", "");
+        effectData = effectData.trim();
 
         // Parse effect entry description