diff --git a/spectral_cube/spectral_cube.py b/spectral_cube/spectral_cube.py
index ffad8f72b..95923f961 100644
--- a/spectral_cube/spectral_cube.py
+++ b/spectral_cube/spectral_cube.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from functools import wraps
 import operator
 import sys
+import re
 
 from astropy import units as u
 from astropy.extern import six
@@ -124,7 +125,8 @@ def __init__(self, data, wcs, mask=None, meta=None, fill_value=np.nan,
         if 'BUNIT' in self._meta:
 
             # special case: CASA (sometimes) makes non-FITS-compliant jy/beam headers
-            if self._meta['BUNIT'].lower() == 'jy/beam':
+            bunit = re.sub("\s", "", self._meta['BUNIT'].lower())
+            if bunit == 'jy/beam':
                 self._unit = u.Jy
 
                 if not read_beam:
diff --git a/spectral_cube/tests/data/make_test_cubes.py b/spectral_cube/tests/data/make_test_cubes.py
index 02db1ead6..e5b323bc5 100644
--- a/spectral_cube/tests/data/make_test_cubes.py
+++ b/spectral_cube/tests/data/make_test_cubes.py
@@ -69,3 +69,5 @@ def transpose(d, h, axes):
     fits.writeto('vda_JYBEAM_upper.fits', d, h, clobber=True)
     h['BUNIT'] = 'Jy/beam'
     fits.writeto('vda_Jybeam_lower.fits', d, h, clobber=True)
+    h['BUNIT'] = ' Jy / beam '
+    fits.writeto('vda_Jybeam_whitespace.fits', d, h, clobber=True)
diff --git a/spectral_cube/tests/test_spectral_cube.py b/spectral_cube/tests/test_spectral_cube.py
index 4561bc05e..d603c209a 100644
--- a/spectral_cube/tests/test_spectral_cube.py
+++ b/spectral_cube/tests/test_spectral_cube.py
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ def test_bad_median_apply(self):
         # from the cube.median method that does "the right thing"
         #
         # for regular median, we expect a failure, which is why we don't use
-        # regular median.  
+        # regular median.
 
         scmed = self.c.apply_numpy_function(np.median, axis=0)
         if StrictVersion(np.__version__) <= StrictVersion('1.9.3'):
@@ -1022,7 +1022,18 @@ def test_jybeam_lower():
         assert hasattr(cube, 'beam')
         np.testing.assert_almost_equal(cube.beam.sr.value,
                                        (((1*u.arcsec/np.sqrt(8*np.log(2)))**2).to(u.sr)*2*np.pi).value)
-        
+
+# Regression test for #257 (https://github.com/radio-astro-tools/spectral-cube/pull/257)
+def test_jybeam_whitespace():
+
+    cube, data = cube_and_raw('vda_Jybeam_whitespace.fits')
+
+    assert cube.unit == u.Jy
+    if RADIO_BEAM_INSTALLED:
+        assert hasattr(cube, 'beam')
+        np.testing.assert_almost_equal(cube.beam.sr.value,
+                                       (((1*u.arcsec/np.sqrt(8*np.log(2)))**2).to(u.sr)*2*np.pi).value)
+
 @pytest.mark.skipif("not RADIO_BEAM_INSTALLED")
 def test_beam_proj_meta():