diff --git a/gluon/tests/test_validators.py b/gluon/tests/test_validators.py
index 49c3c2b1..34bc6e42 100644
--- a/gluon/tests/test_validators.py
+++ b/gluon/tests/test_validators.py
@@ -434,21 +434,21 @@ class TestValidators(unittest.TestCase):
         rtn = IS_NOT_EMPTY()('x')
         self.assertEqual(rtn, ('x', None))
         rtn = IS_NOT_EMPTY()(' x ')
-        self.assertEqual(rtn, ('x', None))
+        self.assertEqual(rtn, (' x ', None))
         rtn = IS_NOT_EMPTY()(None)
         self.assertEqual(rtn, (None, 'Enter a value'))
         rtn = IS_NOT_EMPTY()('')
         self.assertEqual(rtn, ('', 'Enter a value'))
         rtn = IS_NOT_EMPTY()('  ')
-        self.assertEqual(rtn, ('', 'Enter a value'))
+        self.assertEqual(rtn, ('  ', 'Enter a value'))
         rtn = IS_NOT_EMPTY()(' \n\t')
-        self.assertEqual(rtn, ('', 'Enter a value'))
+        self.assertEqual(rtn, (' \n\t', 'Enter a value'))
         rtn = IS_NOT_EMPTY()([])
         self.assertEqual(rtn, ([], 'Enter a value'))
         rtn = IS_NOT_EMPTY(empty_regex='def')('def')
-        self.assertEqual(rtn, ('', 'Enter a value'))
+        self.assertEqual(rtn, ('def', 'Enter a value'))
         rtn = IS_NOT_EMPTY(empty_regex='de[fg]')('deg')
-        self.assertEqual(rtn, ('', 'Enter a value'))
+        self.assertEqual(rtn, ('deg', 'Enter a value'))
         rtn = IS_NOT_EMPTY(empty_regex='def')('abc')
         self.assertEqual(rtn, ('abc', None))
 
@@ -785,7 +785,7 @@ class TestValidators(unittest.TestCase):
         rtn = IS_EMPTY_OR(IS_EMAIL())('abc')
         self.assertEqual(rtn, ('abc', 'Enter a valid email address'))
         rtn = IS_EMPTY_OR(IS_EMAIL())(' abc ')
-        self.assertEqual(rtn, ('abc', 'Enter a valid email address'))
+        self.assertEqual(rtn, (' abc ', 'Enter a valid email address'))
         rtn = IS_EMPTY_OR(IS_IN_SET([('id1', 'first label'), ('id2', 'second label')], zero='zero')).options(zero=False)
         self.assertEqual(rtn, [('', ''), ('id1', 'first label'), ('id2', 'second label')])
         rtn = IS_EMPTY_OR(IS_IN_SET([('id1', 'first label'), ('id2', 'second label')], zero='zero')).options()
diff --git a/gluon/validators.py b/gluon/validators.py
index 360cb17f..a02f763b 100644
--- a/gluon/validators.py
+++ b/gluon/validators.py
@@ -989,14 +989,15 @@ class IS_DECIMAL_IN_RANGE(Validator):
 
 
 def is_empty(value, empty_regex=None):
+    _value = value
     """test empty field"""
     if isinstance(value, (str, unicodeT)):
         value = value.strip()
         if empty_regex is not None and empty_regex.match(value):
             value = ''
     if value is None or value == '' or value == []:
-        return (value, True)
-    return (value, False)
+        return (_value, True)
+    return (_value, False)
 
 
 class IS_NOT_EMPTY(Validator):