diff --git a/.github/workflows/capture_new_migrations.yml b/.github/workflows/capture_new_migrations.yml
index a1aa8cb95b65..b197c11fd67f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/capture_new_migrations.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/capture_new_migrations.yml
@@ -141,7 +141,8 @@ jobs:
       shell: bash
       run: |
         query_result1=$(mysql -h 127.0.0.1 -uedxapp001 -ppassword -e "select  1;" edxapp;)
-        echo "FIRST_QUERY=$query_result1" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+        numeric_result = $(echo "$query_result" | tr -d '[:space:]')
+        echo "FIRST_QUERY=numeric_result" >> $GITHUB_ENV
 
     - name: Step 12
       run: |