diff --git a/src/pager.c b/src/pager.c
index da529f253..081bd190e 100644
--- a/src/pager.c
+++ b/src/pager.c
@@ -1060,6 +1060,7 @@ coord *click_cc;
         case '?':
             from_screen = FALSE;
             getlin("Specify what? (type the word)", out_str);
+            mungspaces(out_str);
             if (out_str[0] == '\0' || out_str[0] == '\033')
                 return 0;