diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 31db9681..75d800fb 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Version 2.8.2-stable+timestamp.2014.01.08.10.23.41
+Version 2.8.2-stable+timestamp.2014.01.08.11.12.43
diff --git a/gluon/tools.py b/gluon/tools.py
index 0dbecb1e..9e893be4 100644
--- a/gluon/tools.py
+++ b/gluon/tools.py
@@ -2015,7 +2015,7 @@ class Auth(object):
         if user and user.get(settings.passfield, False):
             password = settings.table_user[
                 settings.passfield].validate(password)[0]
-            if not user.registration_key and password == \
+            if not user.registration_key.strip() and password == \
                 user[settings.passfield]:
                 self.login_user(user)
                 return user