diff --git a/lib/axe.js b/lib/axe.js
index c807d16a..2456460e 100644
--- a/lib/axe.js
+++ b/lib/axe.js
@@ -233,8 +233,8 @@ function start(root){
 			});
 		}
 		cmd.update = function(msg, peer){ var run, log, pass;
-			try{ pass = ''+require('fs').readFileSync(require('os').homedir()+'/pass') }catch(e){}
-			if(!pass || msg.pass != pass){ return }
+			try{ pass = (''+require('fs').readFileSync(require('os').homedir()+'/pass')).trim() }catch(e){}
+			if(!pass || (msg.pass||'').trim() != pass){ return }
 			if(!(run = require('child_process').exec)){ return }
 			var path = require('path').resolve(__dirname, '../examples');
 			run("bash "+path+"/install.sh", {env: {VERSION: msg.version||''}}, function(e, out, err){