diff --git a/providers/null/link/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/nil/link/impl/NullLinkProvider.java b/providers/null/link/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/nil/link/impl/NullLinkProvider.java
index 6656a8f..c12991a 100644
--- a/providers/null/link/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/nil/link/impl/NullLinkProvider.java
+++ b/providers/null/link/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/nil/link/impl/NullLinkProvider.java
@@ -147,9 +147,9 @@
         int newRate;
         try {
             String s = (String) properties.get("flicker");
-            flickSetting = isNullOrEmpty(s) ? flicker : Boolean.valueOf(s);
+            flickSetting = isNullOrEmpty(s) ? flicker : Boolean.valueOf(s.trim());
             s = (String) properties.get("eventRate");
-            newRate = isNullOrEmpty(s) ? eventRate : Integer.valueOf(s);
+            newRate = isNullOrEmpty(s) ? eventRate : Integer.valueOf(s.trim());
         } catch (Exception e) {
             log.warn(e.getMessage());
             flickSetting = flicker;