diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e66460ea..fcfc6343 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "hed-validator",
-  "version": "1.4.0",
+  "version": "1.4.1",
   "description": "A JavaScript validator for HED (Hierarchical Event Descriptor) strings.",
   "main": "index.js",
   "repository": {
diff --git a/validators/stringParser.js b/validators/stringParser.js
index 5c85e2c5..94cddd4b 100644
--- a/validators/stringParser.js
+++ b/validators/stringParser.js
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ const formatHedTag = function(hedTag, onlyRemoveNewLine = false) {
   if (onlyRemoveNewLine) {
     return hedTag
   }
-  hedTag.trim()
+  hedTag = hedTag.trim()
   if (hedTag.startsWith('"')) {
     hedTag = hedTag.slice(1)
   }