diff --git a/internal/config/config_test.go b/internal/config/config_test.go
index 29f6baf..32ae3dc 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_test.go
@@ -36,3 +36,11 @@ func TestLoadFromEnv(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, []string{"https://claude.ai", "https://api.anthropic.com"}, cfg.OriginAllowlist)
 	assert.Equal(t, "9000", cfg.Port)
 }
+
+func TestLoadCSVTrimsWhitespaceAndDropsEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("GITEA_MCP_ALLOWED_OWNERS", " mathias , , acme ")
+
+	cfg, err := config.Load()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"mathias", "acme"}, cfg.AllowedOwners)
+}