tweaks for labels mappings or None
diff --git a/importer.py b/importer.py
index 468c828..e4a52d7 100644
--- a/importer.py
+++ b/importer.py
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@
         Finally the issue github is noted.    
         """
         print('Issue ', issue['key'])
+        issue['labels'] = [label for label in issue['labels'] if label]
         print('Labels', issue['labels'])
         jira_key = issue['key']
         del issue['key']
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index e41f3c6..178cf79 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -6,12 +6,14 @@
 def fetch_labels_mapping():
     with open("labels_mapping.txt") as file:
         entry = [line.split("=") for line in file.readlines()]
-    return {key.strip(): value.strip() for key, value in entry}
+    return {key.strip(): value.strip() for key, value in entry if key or value}
 
 
 def fetch_allowed_labels():
     with open("allowed_labels.txt") as file:
-        return [line.strip('\n') for line in file.readlines()]
+        lines = (line.rstrip() for line in file.readlines())  # strip right-side whitespace
+        lines = (line for line in lines if line) # remove blank lines
+        return lines
 
 
 def _map_label(label, labels_mapping):