diff --git a/internal/pkg/handler/upgrade.go b/internal/pkg/handler/upgrade.go
index 51e702d8..724568e1 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/handler/upgrade.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/handler/upgrade.go
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ func PerformRollingUpgrade(clients kube.Clients, config util.Config, upgradeFunc
 		if result != constants.Updated && annotationValue != "" {
 			values := strings.Split(annotationValue, ",")
 			for _, value := range values {
+				value = strings.Trim(value, " ")
 				if value == config.ResourceName {
 					result = updateContainers(upgradeFuncs, i, config, false)
 					if result == constants.Updated {
diff --git a/internal/pkg/testutil/kube.go b/internal/pkg/testutil/kube.go
index 32100a64..1fb88377 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/testutil/kube.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/testutil/kube.go
@@ -821,6 +821,7 @@ func VerifyResourceUpdate(clients kube.Clients, config util.Config, envVarPostfi
 		} else if annotationValue != "" {
 			values := strings.Split(annotationValue, ",")
 			for _, value := range values {
+				value = strings.Trim(value, " ")
 				if value == config.ResourceName {
 					matches = true
 					break