diff --git a/anatomy/models.py b/anatomy/models.py
index 65787cfd..24d9928d 100644
--- a/anatomy/models.py
+++ b/anatomy/models.py
@@ -212,6 +212,8 @@ class AnatomyQuestion(models.Model):
                 ]
             )
 
+        user_answers.discard("")
+
         unmarked_answers = user_answers - self.get_marked_answers()
 
         return unmarked_answers
diff --git a/rapids/models.py b/rapids/models.py
index f6f8b597..0275031d 100644
--- a/rapids/models.py
+++ b/rapids/models.py
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ class CidUserAnswer(models.Model):
             self.answer = self.answer.strip()
 
             s = self.answer.lower()
-            s = s.translate(str.maketrans("", "", string.punctuation.replace("#", "")))
+            s = s.translate(str.maketrans("", "", string.punctuation.replace("#", ""))).strip()
 
             self.answer_compare = s