2 files changed, 4 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/add.go b/add.go
index 5116c86..9d25288 100644
--- a/add.go
+++ b/add.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
+	"strings"
 
 	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
 )
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ type options struct {
 
 func addCard(c *http.Client, apiURL, deckName, modelName, front, back string) tea.Cmd {
 	return func() tea.Msg {
+		front = strings.TrimSpace(front)
 		if back == "" {
 			return errMsg(errors.New("definition is blank"))
 		}
diff --git a/ui.go b/ui.go
index 62de3cd..300fb64 100644
--- a/ui.go
+++ b/ui.go
@@ -73,8 +73,9 @@ func (m model) Init() tea.Cmd {
 
 func lookupWord(db *sql.DB, word string) tea.Cmd {
 	return func() tea.Msg {
-		var definition string
+		word = strings.TrimSpace(word) // remove leading / trailing whitespace
 		row := db.QueryRow(`select definition from words where word = ? limit 1`, word)
+		var definition string
 		err := row.Scan(&definition)
 		if err != nil {
 			if errors.Is(err, sql.ErrNoRows) {