diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/MapSaver.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/MapSaver.kt
index 6dae1468e4..fffccc1e1e 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/MapSaver.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/MapSaver.kt
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ object MapSaver {
 
     fun mapFromSavedString(mapString: String, checkSizeErrors: Boolean = true): TileMap {
         val unzippedJson = try {
-            Gzip.unzip(mapString)
+            Gzip.unzip(mapString.trim())
         } catch (ex: Exception) {
             mapString
         }