diff --git a/loopy/__init__.py b/loopy/__init__.py
index 26c7c5fffb557871695a1216641fb9ceae447f28..1e9463f23eeb780ffce4d550e2dc71ae10e11c7d 100644
--- a/loopy/__init__.py
+++ b/loopy/__init__.py
@@ -768,7 +768,7 @@ def remove_unused_inames(knl, inames=None):
 
 def set_loop_priority(kernel, loop_priority):
     if isinstance(loop_priority, str):
-        loop_priority = loop_priority.split(",")
+        loop_priority = [s.strip() for s in loop_priority.split(",")]
 
     for iname in loop_priority:
         if not iname in kernel.all_inames():