diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 1a62539cd..3dd0d5f56 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2007-11-28 Jim Sack <jgsack@san.rr.com>
+	* src/GrampsDb/_ReadGedcom.py : #1399 remove trail whitespace (readahead)
+	fixes discarded reference due to bogus handles that get created
+	when the reference looks like "@REF_ID@ " (note space after) 
+
 2007-11-26 Jim Sack <jgsack@san.rr.com>
 	*  src/plugins/ReadPkg.py : reverted previous change
 	better to leave it broken than to risk worse
diff --git a/src/GrampsDb/_ReadGedcom.py b/src/GrampsDb/_ReadGedcom.py
index 43dbe8a4e..74d367f2d 100644
--- a/src/GrampsDb/_ReadGedcom.py
+++ b/src/GrampsDb/_ReadGedcom.py
@@ -451,7 +451,8 @@ class Reader:
         while len(self.current_list) < 5:
             old_line = self.f.readline()
             self.index += 1
-            line = old_line.strip('\r\n')
+            # space ensures no trailing space at end-of-line
+            line = old_line.strip(' \r\n')
             if line == "" and line != old_line:
                 continue
             if line == "":