diff --git a/hugvey/story.py b/hugvey/story.py
index 0912782..c3fac7d 100644
--- a/hugvey/story.py
+++ b/hugvey/story.py
@@ -464,9 +464,10 @@ class Condition(object):
         if not story.lastMsgFinishTime:
             return False
 
-        msg = story.get(self.vars['msgId'])
+        msgId = self.vars['msgId'].strip()
+        msg = story.get(msgId)
         if not msg:
-            story.logger.critical(f"Condition on non-existing message: {self.vars['msgId']}")
+            story.logger.critical(f"Condition on non-existing message: {msgId}")
             # assigning false to r, keeps 'inverseMatch' working, even when msgId is wrong
             r = False
         else:
@@ -474,7 +475,7 @@ class Condition(object):
             r = msg.isFinished()
 
         if r:
-            story.logger.debug(f"Msg {self.vars['msgId']} has been played.")
+            story.logger.debug(f"Msg {msgId} has been played.")
 
         if 'inverseMatch' in self.vars and self.vars['inverseMatch']:
             # inverse:
@@ -482,7 +483,7 @@ class Condition(object):
 
         self.logInfo = "Has {} played msg {}".format(
             'not' if 'inverseMatch' in self.vars and self.vars['inverseMatch'] else '',
-            self.vars['msgId']
+            msgId
             )
 
         return r