diff --git a/kong/conf_loader.lua b/kong/conf_loader.lua
index 103895b08e6..831d386f224 100644
--- a/kong/conf_loader.lua
+++ b/kong/conf_loader.lua
@@ -151,6 +151,10 @@ local function check_and_infer(conf)
       -- separated strings to tables (but not when the arr has
       -- only one element)
       value = setmetatable(pl_stringx.split(value, ","), nil) -- remove List mt
+
+      for i = 1, #value do
+        value[i] = pl_stringx.strip(value[i])
+      end
     end
 
     if value == "" then
diff --git a/spec/01-unit/02-conf_loader_spec.lua b/spec/01-unit/02-conf_loader_spec.lua
index bdb43f9c2ea..5cb923c118d 100644
--- a/spec/01-unit/02-conf_loader_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/01-unit/02-conf_loader_spec.lua
@@ -154,6 +154,10 @@ describe("Configuration loader", function()
       assert.is_nil(getmetatable(conf.cassandra_contact_points))
       assert.is_nil(getmetatable(conf.cassandra_data_centers))
     end)
+    it("trims array values", function()
+      local conf = assert(conf_loader("spec/fixtures/to-strip.conf"))
+      assert.same({"dc1:2", "dc2:3", "dc3:4"}, conf.cassandra_data_centers)
+    end)
     it("infer ngx_boolean", function()
       local conf = assert(conf_loader(nil, {
         lua_code_cache = true
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/to-strip.conf b/spec/fixtures/to-strip.conf
index 5853a7d1a6f..474b07603b9 100644
--- a/spec/fixtures/to-strip.conf
+++ b/spec/fixtures/to-strip.conf
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@ pg_ssl = off                     # Toggles client-server TLS connections
 
 dns_resolver = 8.8.8.8
 
+cassandra_data_centers = dc1:2,   dc2:3  , dc3:4
+
 custom_plugins = foobar,hello-world  # Comma-separated list of additional plugins
                                      # this node should load.
                                      # Use this property to load custom plugins
                                      # that are not bundled with Kong.
                                      # Plugins will be loaded from the
-                                     # `kong.plugins.{name}.*` namespace.
\ No newline at end of file
+                                     # `kong.plugins.{name}.*` namespace.