diff --git a/packages/compiler-core/__tests__/transforms/vIf.spec.ts b/packages/compiler-core/__tests__/transforms/vIf.spec.ts
index 315497a590c..a21ab1f019b 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-core/__tests__/transforms/vIf.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-core/__tests__/transforms/vIf.spec.ts
@@ -606,6 +606,27 @@ describe('compiler: v-if', () => {
       expect(branch1.props).toMatchObject(createObjectMatcher({ key: `[0]` }))
     })
 
+    test('with spaces between branches', () => {
+      const {
+        node: { codegenNode }
+      } = parseWithIfTransform(
+        `<div v-if="ok"/> <div v-else-if="no"/> <div v-else/>`
+      )
+      expect(codegenNode.consequent).toMatchObject({
+        tag: `"div"`,
+        props: createObjectMatcher({ key: `[0]` })
+      })
+      const branch = codegenNode.alternate as ConditionalExpression
+      expect(branch.consequent).toMatchObject({
+        tag: `"div"`,
+        props: createObjectMatcher({ key: `[1]` })
+      })
+      expect(branch.alternate).toMatchObject({
+        tag: `"div"`,
+        props: createObjectMatcher({ key: `[2]` })
+      })
+    })
+
     test('with comments', () => {
       const { node } = parseWithIfTransform(`
           <template v-if="ok">
diff --git a/packages/compiler-core/src/transforms/vIf.ts b/packages/compiler-core/src/transforms/vIf.ts
index 00832a9acec..76a79e53f21 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-core/src/transforms/vIf.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-core/src/transforms/vIf.ts
@@ -130,6 +130,16 @@ export function processIf(
         comments.unshift(sibling)
         continue
       }
+
+      if (
+        sibling &&
+        sibling.type === NodeTypes.TEXT &&
+        !sibling.content.trim().length
+      ) {
+        context.removeNode(sibling)
+        continue
+      }
+
       if (sibling && sibling.type === NodeTypes.IF) {
         // move the node to the if node's branches
         context.removeNode()