diff --git a/dcicutils/misc_utils.py b/dcicutils/misc_utils.py
index 1ffab1607..17ba61810 100644
--- a/dcicutils/misc_utils.py
+++ b/dcicutils/misc_utils.py
@@ -2560,7 +2560,7 @@ def normalize_string(value: Optional[str]) -> Optional[str]:
     if value is None:
         return ""
     elif isinstance(value, str):
-        return value.strip()
+        return re.sub(r"\s+", " ", value).strip()
     return None
 
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 66fed4d25..db663dc95 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "dcicutils"
-version = "8.8.4.1b28"  # TODO: To become 8.8.5
+version = "8.8.4.1b30"  # TODO: To become 8.8.5
 description = "Utility package for interacting with the 4DN Data Portal and other 4DN resources"
 authors = ["4DN-DCIC Team <support@4dnucleome.org>"]
 license = "MIT"