diff --git a/lib-python/anki/importing/noteimp.py b/lib-python/anki/importing/noteimp.py
index e4b95dde0..eb11504cc 100644
--- a/lib-python/anki/importing/noteimp.py
+++ b/lib-python/anki/importing/noteimp.py
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ content in the text file to the correct fields."""
             return [intTime(), self.col.usn(), n.fieldsStr, tags, id, n.fieldsStr, tags]
         elif self.tagModified:
             tags = self.col.db.scalar("select tags from notes where id = ?", id)
-            tagList = self.col.tags.split(tags) + self.tagModified.split(",")
+            tagList = self.col.tags.split(tags) + self.tagModified.split()
             tagList = self.col.tags.canonify(tagList)
             self.col.tags.register(tagList)
             tags = self.col.tags.join(tagList)
diff --git a/lib-python/tests/test_importing.py b/lib-python/tests/test_importing.py
index 9cafe817d..ae7406fc1 100644
--- a/lib-python/tests/test_importing.py
+++ b/lib-python/tests/test_importing.py
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ def test_tsv_tag_multiple_tags():
         tf.flush()
         i = TextImporter(deck, tf.name)
         i.initMapping()
-        i.tagModified = "five,six"
+        i.tagModified = "five six"
         i.run()
 
     n.load()