diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 858b074..038360e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -179,6 +179,7 @@ following sample config:
 ### Unreleased
 
 <!-- bumpversion-changelog -->
+- Minor whitespace bugfix for `alphabetize-codeowners`
 
 ### 0.6.1
 
diff --git a/src/texthooks/alphabetize_codeowners.py b/src/texthooks/alphabetize_codeowners.py
index 442342a..b3cf9d8 100644
--- a/src/texthooks/alphabetize_codeowners.py
+++ b/src/texthooks/alphabetize_codeowners.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def sort_line(line: str) -> str:
     if line == "" or line.strip().startswith("#"):
         return line
     # also normalizes whitespace
-    dedented = line.lstrip()
+    dedented = line.lstrip().rstrip()
     elements = WS_PAT.split(dedented)
     if len(elements) < 2:
         return line