diff --git a/redisgraph_bulk_loader/entity_file.py b/redisgraph_bulk_loader/entity_file.py
index 1f4f605..5044560 100644
--- a/redisgraph_bulk_loader/entity_file.py
+++ b/redisgraph_bulk_loader/entity_file.py
@@ -115,14 +115,15 @@ def typed_prop_to_binary(prop_val, prop_type):
 def inferred_prop_to_binary(prop_val):
     # All format strings start with an unsigned char to represent our prop_type enum
     format_str = "=B"
+
+    # Remove leading and trailing whitespace
+    prop_val = prop_val.strip()
+
     if prop_val == "":
         # An empty string indicates a NULL property.
         # TODO This is not allowed in Cypher, consider how to handle it here rather than in-module.
         return struct.pack(format_str, 0)
 
-    # Remove leading and trailing whitespace
-    prop_val = prop_val.strip()
-
     # Try to parse value as an integer.
     try:
         numeric_prop = int(prop_val)