diff --git a/komodo/release_transpiler.py b/komodo/release_transpiler.py
index 11efd1a96..3fc92958a 100755
--- a/komodo/release_transpiler.py
+++ b/komodo/release_transpiler.py
@@ -213,10 +213,10 @@ def main():
     )
     matrix_parser.add_argument(
         "--py_coords",
-        help="""Comma delimitated list of python versions to be combined.
+        help="""Comma delimitated list of python versions to be combined, for example, "3.6, 3.8".
         If None, the release files in release-folder will be used to imply
         the versions to combine.""",
-        type=lambda s: re.split(",", s),
+        type=lambda s: re.split(",", s.replace(" ", "")),
         required=False,
         default=None,
     )