diff --git a/src/script/descriptor.cpp b/src/script/descriptor.cpp
index 499af47ee55..79959dbf4c5 100644
--- a/src/script/descriptor.cpp
+++ b/src/script/descriptor.cpp
@@ -1509,6 +1509,10 @@ std::vector<std::unique_ptr<PubkeyProvider>> ParsePubkeyInner(uint32_t key_exp_i
         error = "No key provided";
         return {};
     }
+    if (IsSpace(str.front()) || IsSpace(str.back())) {
+        error = strprintf("Key '%s' is invalid due to whitespace", str);
+        return {};
+    }
     if (split.size() == 1) {
         if (IsHex(str)) {
             std::vector<unsigned char> data = ParseHex(str);