diff --git a/dashboard/src/validators/NotNullValidator.js b/dashboard/src/validators/NotNullValidator.js
index aa00b535a4..677b965af6 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/validators/NotNullValidator.js
+++ b/dashboard/src/validators/NotNullValidator.js
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import { extend } from 'vee-validate';
 const validator = {
   message: (field) => `Null is not allowed for ${field}`,
   validate(value) {
-    return !value || value.toLowerCase() !== 'null';
+    return !value || value.trim().toLowerCase() !== 'null';
   },
 };
 
diff --git a/e2e-tests/cypress/e2e/projects_modal_validation_spec.js b/e2e-tests/cypress/e2e/projects_modal_validation_spec.js
index 7862148ce7..5a79b7bb33 100644
--- a/e2e-tests/cypress/e2e/projects_modal_validation_spec.js
+++ b/e2e-tests/cypress/e2e/projects_modal_validation_spec.js
@@ -359,9 +359,9 @@ describe('Projects Modal Validation Tests', () => {
         cy.get('[data-cy=projectNameError]').should('not.be.visible')
         cy.get('[data-cy=idError]').should('not.be.visible')
 
-        // verify validator is case insensitive
+        // verify validator is case-insensitive and trims whitespace
         cy.get('[data-cy="projectName"]').clear()
-            .type('NUlL');
+            .type(' NUlL ');
         cy.get('[data-cy=projectNameError]')
             .contains('Null is not allowed for Project Name')
             .should('be.visible');