diff --git a/src/main/java/io/github/guacsec/trustifyda/utils/PythonControllerBase.java b/src/main/java/io/github/guacsec/trustifyda/utils/PythonControllerBase.java
index b8b65a2b..68ff5c86 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/github/guacsec/trustifyda/utils/PythonControllerBase.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/github/guacsec/trustifyda/utils/PythonControllerBase.java
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ private List<Map<String, Object>> getDependenciesImpl(
     try {
       linesOfRequirements =
           Files.readAllLines(requirementsPath).stream()
-              .filter((line) -> !line.startsWith("#"))
+              .filter((line) -> !line.trim().startsWith("#") && !line.trim().isEmpty())
               .map(String::trim)
               .collect(Collectors.toList());
     } catch (IOException e) {