diff --git a/client/src/components/plugins/localization.js b/client/src/components/plugins/localization.js
index cf6c196778b..896cb6756fd 100644
--- a/client/src/components/plugins/localization.js
+++ b/client/src/components/plugins/localization.js
@@ -12,11 +12,14 @@ function localizeDirective(l) {
         // TODO consider using a different hook if we need dynamic updates in content translation
         bind(el, binding, vnode) {
             el.childNodes.forEach((node) => {
+                // trim for lookup, but put back whitespace after
+                const leadingSpace = node.textContent.match(/^\s*/)[0];
+                const trailingSpace = node.textContent.match(/\s*$/)[0];
                 const standardizedContent = node.textContent
                     .replace(newlineMatch, " ")
                     .replace(doublespaces, " ")
                     .trim();
-                node.textContent = l(standardizedContent);
+                node.textContent = leadingSpace + l(standardizedContent) + trailingSpace;
             });
         },
     };