diff --git a/tests/common/portstat_utilities.py b/tests/common/portstat_utilities.py
index df33b5a74bc..6fd01dda779 100644
--- a/tests/common/portstat_utilities.py
+++ b/tests/common/portstat_utilities.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def parse_portstat(content_lines):
 
     results = {}
     for line in content_lines[separation_line_number+1:reminder_line_number]:
-        if line == '\n': # skip empty line
+        if not line.strip(): # skip empty line or newline
             continue
         portstats = []
         for pos in positions: