diff --git a/src/main/java/com/commafeed/backend/feeds/FeedUtils.java b/src/main/java/com/commafeed/backend/feeds/FeedUtils.java
index 09a3d96c..a887c176 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/commafeed/backend/feeds/FeedUtils.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/commafeed/backend/feeds/FeedUtils.java
@@ -340,6 +340,7 @@ public class FeedUtils {
 	}
 
 	public static String toAbsoluteUrl(String url, String baseUrl) {
+		url = StringUtils.trimToNull(StringUtils.normalizeSpace(url));
 		if (baseUrl == null || url == null || url.startsWith("http")) {
 			return url;
 		}