diff --git a/test/test_utils.py b/test/test_utils.py
index 33b496573..5e0754fe1 100644
--- a/test/test_utils.py
+++ b/test/test_utils.py
@@ -712,7 +712,9 @@ ffmpeg version 2.4.4 Copyright (c) 2000-2014 the FFmpeg ...'''), '2.4.4')
         self.assertTrue(match_str(
             'playlist_title != some-playlist_name & playlist_title != some_playlist-name',
             {'playlist_title': 'some_playlist'}))
-
+        self.assertFalse(match_str(
+            'playlist_title != some playlist with space & playlist_title != foobar',
+            {'playlist_title': 'some playlist with space'}))
 
     def test_parse_dfxp_time_expr(self):
         self.assertEqual(parse_dfxp_time_expr(None), None)
diff --git a/youtube_dl/utils.py b/youtube_dl/utils.py
index fd32d904d..128248a52 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/utils.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/utils.py
@@ -2011,7 +2011,7 @@ def match_str(filter_str, dct):
     """ Filter a dictionary with a simple string syntax. Returns True (=passes filter) or false """
 
     return all(
-        _match_one(filter_part, dct) for filter_part in filter_str.split('&'))
+        _match_one(filter_part.strip(), dct) for filter_part in filter_str.split('&'))
 
 
 def match_filter_func(filter_str):