diff --git a/plugins/gradle/src/org/jetbrains/plugins/gradle/remote/impl/GradleTaskManager.java b/plugins/gradle/src/org/jetbrains/plugins/gradle/remote/impl/GradleTaskManager.java
index 4dc6fc050fea..1e6d2ba902be 100644
--- a/plugins/gradle/src/org/jetbrains/plugins/gradle/remote/impl/GradleTaskManager.java
+++ b/plugins/gradle/src/org/jetbrains/plugins/gradle/remote/impl/GradleTaskManager.java
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ public class GradleTaskManager implements ExternalSystemTaskManager<GradleExecut
       @Override
       public Void fun(ProjectConnection connection) {
         BuildLauncher launcher = myHelper.getBuildLauncher(id, connection, settings, listener);
-        if (!StringUtil.isEmpty(vmOptions)) {
-          launcher.setJvmArguments(vmOptions);
+        if (vmOptions != null) {
+          launcher.setJvmArguments(vmOptions.trim());
         }
         launcher.forTasks(ArrayUtil.toStringArray(taskNames));
         launcher.run();