diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/syncfiles.py b/confluent_server/confluent/syncfiles.py
index f7148815..6477462f 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/syncfiles.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/syncfiles.py
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ def mkdirp(path):
             raise
 
 def get_entries(filename):
+    filename = filename.strip()
+    if filename[-1] == '>':
+        filename = filename[:-1]
     with open(filename, 'r') as slfile:
         slist = slfile.read()
     entries = slist.split('\n')
diff --git a/imgutil/imgutil b/imgutil/imgutil
index fcb8d6fc..b59d08f9 100644
--- a/imgutil/imgutil
+++ b/imgutil/imgutil
@@ -412,6 +412,9 @@ class OsHandler(object):
     def list_packages(self, pkglistfile=None):
         if pkglistfile is None:
             pkglistfile = self.pkglist
+        pkglistfile = pkglistfile.strip()
+        if pkglistfile[-1] == '>':
+            pkglistfile = pkglistfile[:-1]
         with open(pkglistfile, 'r') as pkglist:
             pkgs = pkglist.read()
             pkgs = pkgs.split()