diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/templates/base.mako b/src/wuttaweb/templates/base.mako
index 55b2aa8..67adb61 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/templates/base.mako
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/templates/base.mako
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@
 
             <b-field label="User Name"
                      :type="userName && userName.trim() ? null : 'is-danger'">
-              <b-input v-model.trim="userName"
+              <b-input v-model="userName"
                        % if request.user:
                            disabled
                        % endif
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@
             <b-field label="Message"
                      :type="message && message.trim() ? null : 'is-danger'">
               <b-input type="textarea"
-                       v-model.trim="message"
+                       v-model="message"
                        ref="textarea" />
             </b-field>
           </section>
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@
                 return {
                     referrer: this.referrer,
                     user_uuid: this.userUUID,
-                    user_name: this.userName,
+                    user_name: this.userName.trim(),
                     message: this.message.trim(),
                     ...this.getExtraParams(),
                 }