diff --git a/tester.py b/tester.py
index 06f154d0909b3e71786c0eac262dd051a3e8645d..7128c63c7d105a06bb60423ae04ec0ce0ce82fc1 100755
--- a/tester.py
+++ b/tester.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def raid_idle():
     devs = glob.glob('/sys/block/md*/md/sync_action')
     for d in devs:
         with open(d, 'r') as f:
-            sync_state = f.read()
+            sync_state = f.read().strip()
             if sync_state != "idle":
                 idle = False
                 print("State in %s is %s" % (d, sync_state))