diff --git a/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onosproject/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java b/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onosproject/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java
index dc925e6..a10bfef 100644
--- a/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onosproject/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java
+++ b/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onosproject/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@
         try {
             String flag = (String) properties.get(propertyName);
             if (flag != null) {
-                enabled = flag.equals("true");
+                enabled = flag.trim().equals("true");
             }
         } catch (ClassCastException e) {
             // No propertyName defined.