diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/system/firewalld.py b/lib/ansible/modules/system/firewalld.py
index cdc266e53bb..156cc9d889e 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/system/firewalld.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/system/firewalld.py
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ def main():
     source = module.params['source']
 
     if module.params['port'] is not None:
-        port, protocol = module.params['port'].split('/')
+        port, protocol = module.params['port'].strip().split('/')
         if protocol is None:
             module.fail_json(msg='improper port format (missing protocol?)')
     else: