diff --git a/pixeldata/src/attribute.rs b/pixeldata/src/attribute.rs
index a04622542..e1ed3025b 100644
--- a/pixeldata/src/attribute.rs
+++ b/pixeldata/src/attribute.rs
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ pub fn photometric_interpretation<D: DataDictionary + Clone>(
         .context(MissingRequiredSnafu { name })?
         .string()
         .context(CastValueSnafu { name })?
-        .trim()
+        .trim_matches(|c: char| c.is_whitespace() || c == '\0')
         .into())
 }