diff --git a/file_copier.py b/file_copier.py
index 2a056250..a42160e4 100644
--- a/file_copier.py
+++ b/file_copier.py
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ def _clean_up_record(record):
         :param record:
         :return:
         """
-        return {key.strip(): value.strip() for key, value in record.items()}
+        return {key if not key else key.strip(): value if not value else value.strip() for key, value in record.items()}
 
     def _read_pre_manifest(self):
         files = []