diff --git a/tools/matchcompiler.py b/tools/matchcompiler.py
index 4724c886e..725df4916 100755
--- a/tools/matchcompiler.py
+++ b/tools/matchcompiler.py
@@ -569,9 +569,9 @@ class MatchCompiler:
 
     def _replaceCStrings(self, line):
         while True:
-            match = re.search('str\(\) (==|!=) "', line)
+            match = re.search('str\(\) *(==|!=) *"', line)
             if not match:
-                match = re.search('strAt\(.+?\) (==|!=) "', line)
+                match = re.search('strAt\(.+?\) *(==|!=) *"', line)
             if not match:
                 break