diff --git a/run_agent.py b/run_agent.py
index 7e42beb3eba4..636e1345c41f 100644
--- a/run_agent.py
+++ b/run_agent.py
@@ -2007,7 +2007,7 @@ def __init__(
             try:
                 _mem_provider_name = mem_config.get("provider", "") if mem_config else ""
 
-                if _mem_provider_name:
+                if _mem_provider_name and _mem_provider_name.strip():
                     from agent.memory_manager import MemoryManager as _MemoryManager
                     from plugins.memory import load_memory_provider as _load_mem
                     self._memory_manager = _MemoryManager()