diff --git a/server/src/com/cloud/host/dao/HostTagsDaoImpl.java b/server/src/com/cloud/host/dao/HostTagsDaoImpl.java
index e620dc62470..ed5f3c4a42d 100644
--- a/server/src/com/cloud/host/dao/HostTagsDaoImpl.java
+++ b/server/src/com/cloud/host/dao/HostTagsDaoImpl.java
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ public class HostTagsDaoImpl extends GenericDaoBase<HostTagVO, Long> implements
         expunge(sc);
         
         for (String tag : hostTags) {
-            tag.trim();
+            tag = tag.trim();
             if(tag.length() > 0) {
                 HostTagVO vo = new HostTagVO(hostId, tag);
                 persist(vo);