diff --git a/models.py b/models.py
index 84b6af88..9d0d7de5 100755
--- a/models.py
+++ b/models.py
@@ -441,9 +441,10 @@ def convert(cfg='cfg/yolov3-spp.cfg', weights='weights/yolov3-spp.weights'):
 
 def attempt_download(weights):
     # Attempt to download pretrained weights if not found locally
+    weights = weights.strip()
     msg = weights + ' missing, try downloading from https://drive.google.com/open?id=1LezFG5g3BCW6iYaV89B2i64cqEUZD7e0'
 
-    if weights and not os.path.isfile(weights):
+    if len(weights) > 0 and not os.path.isfile(weights):
         d = {'yolov3-spp.weights': '16lYS4bcIdM2HdmyJBVDOvt3Trx6N3W2R',
              'yolov3.weights': '1uTlyDWlnaqXcsKOktP5aH_zRDbfcDp-y',
              'yolov3-tiny.weights': '1CCF-iNIIkYesIDzaPvdwlcf7H9zSsKZQ',