diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_vm.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_vm.erl
index 79ad9905c..894595f72 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_vm.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_vm.erl
@@ -418,6 +418,9 @@ get_otp_version() ->
     end.
 
 read_otp_version() ->
+    string:trim(do_read_otp_version()).
+
+do_read_otp_version() ->
     ReleasesDir = filename:join([code:root_dir(), "releases"]),
     Filename = filename:join([ReleasesDir, emqx_app:get_release(), "BUILD_INFO"]),
     case file:read_file(Filename) of