diff --git a/boards/abstracts/settingsmanager.py b/boards/abstracts/settingsmanager.py
--- a/boards/abstracts/settingsmanager.py
+++ b/boards/abstracts/settingsmanager.py
@@ -144,11 +144,12 @@ class SettingsManager:
         return str(opening_post.id) in self.get_fav_threads()
 
     def get_notification_usernames(self):
-        name_list = self.get_setting(SETTING_USERNAME)
+        names = set()
+        name_list = self.get_setting(SETTING_USERNAME).strip()
         if name_list is not None and len(name_list) > 0:
-            return name_list.lower().split(',')
-        else:
-            return list()
+            names = name_list.lower().split(',')
+            names = set(name.strip() for name in names)
+        return names
 
 
 class SessionSettingsManager(SettingsManager):