diff --git a/agents-api/agents_api/activities/task_steps/base_evaluate.py b/agents-api/agents_api/activities/task_steps/base_evaluate.py
index 09e21498a..ff4a0879e 100644
--- a/agents-api/agents_api/activities/task_steps/base_evaluate.py
+++ b/agents-api/agents_api/activities/task_steps/base_evaluate.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 
 
 def backwards_compatibility(expr: str) -> str:
+    expr = expr.strip()
+
     if expr.startswith("$ "):
         return expr
 
diff --git a/agents-api/tests/test_base_evaluate.py b/agents-api/tests/test_base_evaluate.py
index 52f1b146f..ad53d17d4 100644
--- a/agents-api/tests/test_base_evaluate.py
+++ b/agents-api/tests/test_base_evaluate.py
@@ -227,3 +227,8 @@ async def _():
     exprs = "hello world"
     result = backwards_compatibility(exprs)
     assert result == "hello world"
+
+    # Test spaces at the beginning and end
+    exprs = "  _[0]  "
+    result = backwards_compatibility(exprs)
+    assert result == "$ _[0]"