diff --git a/app/main/controller/api/signature.php b/app/main/controller/api/signature.php
index 65dbca89..4aaf769e 100644
--- a/app/main/controller/api/signature.php
+++ b/app/main/controller/api/signature.php
@@ -162,6 +162,14 @@ class Signature extends Controller\AccessController{
                                     unset( $data['typeId'] );
                                 }
 
+                                // "sig reader" should not overwrite signature group information
+                                if(
+                                    $data['groupId'] == 0 &&
+                                    $signature->groupId > 0
+                                ){
+                                    unset($data['groupId']);
+                                }
+
                                 $newData = $data;
                             }
 
diff --git a/js/app/ui/form_element.js b/js/app/ui/form_element.js
index 8bab28e1..1c629ea3 100644
--- a/js/app/ui/form_element.js
+++ b/js/app/ui/form_element.js
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ define([
                 ajax: {
                     url: function(params){
                         // add params to URL
-                        return   Init.path.searchSystem + '/' + params.term;
+                        return   Init.path.searchSystem + '/' + params.term.trim();
                     },
                     dataType: 'json',
                     delay: 250,
diff --git a/public/js/v1.1.1/app/ui/form_element.js b/public/js/v1.1.1/app/ui/form_element.js
index 8bab28e1..1c629ea3 100644
--- a/public/js/v1.1.1/app/ui/form_element.js
+++ b/public/js/v1.1.1/app/ui/form_element.js
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ define([
                 ajax: {
                     url: function(params){
                         // add params to URL
-                        return   Init.path.searchSystem + '/' + params.term;
+                        return   Init.path.searchSystem + '/' + params.term.trim();
                     },
                     dataType: 'json',
                     delay: 250,