diff --git a/app/services/discovery_engine/query/best_bets_boost.rb b/app/services/discovery_engine/query/best_bets_boost.rb
index 639b37e..d0825d2 100644
--- a/app/services/discovery_engine/query/best_bets_boost.rb
+++ b/app/services/discovery_engine/query/best_bets_boost.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 module DiscoveryEngine::Query
   class BestBetsBoost
     def initialize(query_string)
-      @query_string = query_string
+      @query_string = query_string.strip.downcase.gsub(/\s+/, " ")
     end
 
     def boost_specs
diff --git a/spec/services/discovery_engine/query/search_spec.rb b/spec/services/discovery_engine/query/search_spec.rb
index 50e4336..324e4c3 100644
--- a/spec/services/discovery_engine/query/search_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/discovery_engine/query/search_spec.rb
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
         end
       end
 
-      context "when searching for a query that has a single best bets defined" do
+      context "when searching for a query that has a single best bet defined" do
         # see test section in YAML config
         let(:query_params) { { q: "i want to test a single best bet" } }
 
@@ -171,6 +171,24 @@
         end
       end
 
+      context "when searching for a query with a best bet in a different case and whitespace" do
+        # see test section in YAML config
+        let(:query_params) { { q: " I want to        TEST   a sInGlE best bET   " } }
+
+        let(:expected_boost_specs) do
+          super() + [{
+            boost: 1,
+            condition: 'link: ANY("/here/you/go")',
+          }]
+        end
+
+        it "calls the client with the expected parameters" do
+          expect(client).to have_received(:search).with(
+            hash_including(boost_spec: { condition_boost_specs: expected_boost_specs }),
+          )
+        end
+      end
+
       context "when searching for a query that has multiple best bets defined" do
         # see test section in YAML config
         let(:query_params) { { q: "i want to test multiple best bets" } }