diff --git a/src/OMSimulatorPython/fmu.py b/src/OMSimulatorPython/fmu.py
index 7adb6f3e9..9e8d7c041 100644
--- a/src/OMSimulatorPython/fmu.py
+++ b/src/OMSimulatorPython/fmu.py
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ def _load_model_description(self):
           # Parse modelName, guid, ...
           self._fmiVersion = model_description.get('fmiVersion')
           self._valid = utils.validateFMU(model_description, str(self._fmu_path), self._fmiVersion)
-          self._modelName = model_description.get('modelName')
+          self._modelName = model_description.get('modelName').replace(" ", "") ## remove any whitespace from modelName
           self._guid = model_description.get('guid')
           self._description = model_description.get('description')
           self._generationTool = model_description.get('generationTool')