diff --git a/case_utils/case_sparql_select/__init__.py b/case_utils/case_sparql_select/__init__.py
index b163135..5f97261 100644
--- a/case_utils/case_sparql_select/__init__.py
+++ b/case_utils/case_sparql_select/__init__.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def query_text_to_variables(select_query_text: str) -> typing.List[str]:
     select_query_text_lines = select_query_text.split("\n")
     select_line = [
         line for line in select_query_text_lines if line.startswith("SELECT ")
-    ][0]
+    ][0].strip()
     variables = select_line.replace(" DISTINCT", "").replace("SELECT ", "").split(" ")
     return variables
 
diff --git a/tests/case_utils/case_sparql_select/subclass.sparql b/tests/case_utils/case_sparql_select/subclass.sparql
index 20b7b41..ef6c8d2 100644
--- a/tests/case_utils/case_sparql_select/subclass.sparql
+++ b/tests/case_utils/case_sparql_select/subclass.sparql
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 PREFIX uco-observable: <https://ontology.unifiedcyberontology.org/uco/observable/>
-SELECT ?nFile
+# NOTE: There is intentionally a trailing whitespace in the SELECT clause.
+# NOTE: This query is expected to have one output column.
+SELECT ?nFile 
 WHERE {
   ?nFile a/rdfs:subClassOf* uco-observable:ObservableObject .
 }