diff --git a/Lib/getopt.py b/Lib/getopt.py
--- a/Lib/getopt.py
+++ b/Lib/getopt.py
@@ -82,9 +82,9 @@
 
     opts = []
     if type(longopts) == type(""):
-        longopts = [longopts]
+        longopts = [longopts.strip()]
     else:
-        longopts = list(longopts)
+        longopts = [opt.strip() for opt in longopts]
     while args and args[0].startswith('-') and args[0] != '-':
         if args[0] == '--':
             args = args[1:]
@@ -114,9 +114,9 @@
     opts = []
     prog_args = []
     if isinstance(longopts, str):
-        longopts = [longopts]
+        longopts = [longopts.strip()]
     else:
-        longopts = list(longopts)
+        longopts = [opt.strip() for opt in longopts]
 
     # Allow options after non-option arguments?
     if shortopts.startswith('+'):
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_getopt.py b/Lib/test/test_getopt.py
--- a/Lib/test/test_getopt.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_getopt.py
@@ -180,5 +180,17 @@
         self.assertEqual(longopts, [('--help', 'x')])
         self.assertRaises(getopt.GetoptError, getopt.getopt, ['--help='], '', ['help'])
 
+    def test_ignore_spaces(self):
+        longopts = [' spam', 'eggs ', ' cheese ']
+        args = ['--spam', '--eggs', '--cheese']
+        expected = [('--cheese', ''), ('--eggs', ''), ('--spam', '')]
+        for func in (getopt.getopt, getopt.gnu_getopt):
+            with self.subTest(func=func.__name__):
+                options, arguments = func(args, '', longopts)
+                options.sort()
+                self.assertEqual(options, expected)
+                self.assertEqual(arguments, [])
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()