diff --git a/src/common_file_operations.rs b/src/common_file_operations.rs
index 2295426..88b5ace 100644
--- a/src/common_file_operations.rs
+++ b/src/common_file_operations.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ pub(crate) fn write_bool_as<T: std::convert::From<u8>>(x: &bool) -> T {
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn read_string(byte_stream: Vec<u8>) -> String {
-    String::from_utf8(byte_stream).unwrap()
+    let str = String::from_utf8(byte_stream).unwrap();
+    str.trim_matches(char::from(0)).to_string() // trim \0 from the end of strings
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn write_string(str: &String) -> Vec<u8> {