diff --git a/tildes/tildes/schemas/user.py b/tildes/tildes/schemas/user.py
index 6747ebc..e6f99f5 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/schemas/user.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/schemas/user.py
@@ -93,12 +93,17 @@ class UserSchema(Schema):
             raise ValidationError("That password exists in a data breach (see sidebar)")
 
     @pre_load
-    def prepare_username(self, data: dict) -> dict:
-        """Prepare the username value before it's validated."""
+    def username_trim_whitespace(self, data: dict) -> dict:
+        """Trim leading/trailing whitespace around the username.
+
+        Requires username_trim_whitespace be True in the schema's context.
+        """
+        if not self.context.get("username_trim_whitespace"):
+            return data
+
         if "username" not in data:
             return data
 
-        # strip any leading/trailing whitespace
         data["username"] = data["username"].strip()
 
         return data
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/views/login.py b/tildes/tildes/views/login.py
index f6bfb2b..9b63992 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/views/login.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/views/login.py
@@ -49,7 +49,11 @@ def finish_login(request: Request, user: User) -> None:
 @view_config(
     route_name="login", request_method="POST", permission=NO_PERMISSION_REQUIRED
 )
-@use_kwargs(UserSchema(only=("username", "password"), strict=True))
+@use_kwargs(
+    UserSchema(
+        only=("username", "password"), context={"username_trim_whitespace": True}
+    )
+)
 @not_logged_in
 @rate_limit_view("login")
 def post_login(request: Request, username: str, password: str) -> HTTPFound: