diff --git a/opac/opac-memberentry.pl b/opac/opac-memberentry.pl
index 0d7d22a83b..bedcf19095 100755
--- a/opac/opac-memberentry.pl
+++ b/opac/opac-memberentry.pl
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ sub CheckMandatoryFields {
 
     foreach my $key ( keys %$mandatory_fields ) {
         push( @empty_mandatory_fields, $key )
-            unless ( defined( $borrower->{$key} ) && $borrower->{$key} );
+            unless ( defined( $borrower->{$key} ) && $borrower->{$key} && $borrower->{$key} !~ /^\s*$/ );
     }
 
     return @empty_mandatory_fields;