diff --git a/pkg/ottl/ottlfuncs/func_trim.go b/pkg/ottl/ottlfuncs/func_trim.go
index f2193ba43d6d..1e4ae51b9a5d 100644
--- a/pkg/ottl/ottlfuncs/func_trim.go
+++ b/pkg/ottl/ottlfuncs/func_trim.go
@@ -31,15 +31,15 @@ func createTrimFunction[K any](_ ottl.FunctionContext, oArgs ottl.Arguments) (ot
 }
 
 func trim[K any](target ottl.StringGetter[K], replacement ottl.Optional[string]) ottl.ExprFunc[K] {
-        replacementString := replacement.Get()
+	replacementString := " "
+	if !replacement.IsEmpty() {
+		replacementString = replacement.Get()
+	}
 	return func(ctx context.Context, tCtx K) (any, error) {
 		val, err := target.Get(ctx, tCtx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		if replacement.IsEmpty() {
-			return strings.Trim(val, " "), nil
-		}
 		return strings.Trim(val, replacementString), nil
 	}
 }