diff --git a/src/_P037_MQTTImport.ino b/src/_P037_MQTTImport.ino
index 3acc31a90f..3d5980a3d5 100644
--- a/src/_P037_MQTTImport.ino
+++ b/src/_P037_MQTTImport.ino
@@ -761,9 +761,10 @@ bool MQTTSubscribe_037(struct EventStruct *event)
   for (uint8_t x = 0; x < VARS_PER_TASK; x++) {
     String subscribeTo = P037_data->getFullMQTTTopic(x);
 
-    if (!subscribeTo.isEmpty()) {
-      parseSystemVariables(subscribeTo, false);
+    parseSystemVariables(subscribeTo, false);
+    subscribeTo.trim();
 
+    if (!subscribeTo.isEmpty()) {
       if (MQTTclient.subscribe(subscribeTo.c_str())) {
         if (loglevelActiveFor(LOG_LEVEL_INFO)) {
           addLog(LOG_LEVEL_INFO, strformat(F("IMPT : [%s#%s] subscribed to %s"),
diff --git a/src/src/ESPEasyCore/Controller.cpp b/src/src/ESPEasyCore/Controller.cpp
index d01eed6780..451219d831 100644
--- a/src/src/ESPEasyCore/Controller.cpp
+++ b/src/src/ESPEasyCore/Controller.cpp
@@ -560,11 +560,15 @@ bool MQTTConnect(controllerIndex_t controller_idx)
   String subscribeTo = ControllerSettings->Subscribe;
 
   parseSystemVariables(subscribeTo, false);
-  MQTTclient.subscribe(subscribeTo.c_str());
+  subscribeTo.trim();
 
-  if (loglevelActiveFor(LOG_LEVEL_INFO))
-  {
-    addLogMove(LOG_LEVEL_INFO, concat(F("Subscribed to: "),  subscribeTo));
+  if (!subscribeTo.isEmpty()) {
+    MQTTclient.subscribe(subscribeTo.c_str());
+
+    if (loglevelActiveFor(LOG_LEVEL_INFO))
+    {
+      addLogMove(LOG_LEVEL_INFO, concat(F("Subscribed to: "),  subscribeTo));
+    }
   }
 
   updateMQTTclient_connected();