diff --git a/python/ray/tune/trial.py b/python/ray/tune/trial.py
index 7f32d3941..9acef4ac1 100644
--- a/python/ray/tune/trial.py
+++ b/python/ray/tune/trial.py
@@ -217,11 +217,13 @@ class ExportFormat(object):
         Raises:
             ValueError if the format is unknown.
         """
-        for export_format in export_formats:
-            if export_format not in [
+        for i in range(len(export_formats)):
+            export_formats[i] = export_formats[i].strip().lower()
+            if export_formats[i] not in [
                     ExportFormat.CHECKPOINT, ExportFormat.MODEL
             ]:
-                raise TuneError("Unsupported export format: " + export_format)
+                raise TuneError("Unsupported export format: " +
+                                export_formats[i])
 
 
 class Trial(object):