diff --git a/anki/template/template.py b/anki/template/template.py
index 75558f2e2..68a8e3f60 100644
--- a/anki/template/template.py
+++ b/anki/template/template.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import re
-from anki.utils import stripHTML
+from anki.utils import stripHTML, stripHTMLMedia
 from anki.hooks import runFilter
 from anki.template import furigana; furigana.install()
 from anki.template import hint; hint.install()
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ class Template(object):
             replacer = ''
             # if it and isinstance(it, collections.Callable):
             #     replacer = it(inner)
+            if isinstance(it, basestring):
+                it = stripHTMLMedia(it).strip()
             if it and not hasattr(it, '__iter__'):
                 if section[2] != '^':
                     replacer = inner