diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
index 3f465cfce..3bb172300 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ class HintManager(QObject):
         """
         for attr in ('href', 'src'):
             if attr in elem:
-                text = elem[attr]
+                text = elem[attr].strip()
                 break
         else:
             return None