diff --git a/plugins/c9.ide.plugins/updater-npm.js b/plugins/c9.ide.plugins/updater-npm.js
index 3a02daea..47e760a1 100644
--- a/plugins/c9.ide.plugins/updater-npm.js
+++ b/plugins/c9.ide.plugins/updater-npm.js
@@ -159,10 +159,6 @@ define(function(require, exports, module) {
             }
         }
 
-        function trimRight(str) {
-            return str.replace(/\s+$/, "");
-        }
-
         /* -- npm Management ----- */
 
         /**
@@ -207,8 +203,8 @@ define(function(require, exports, module) {
 
                 if (err) return callback(err, stdout, err.message);
 
-                stdout = trimRight(stdout);
-                stderr = trimRight(stderr);
+                stdout = stdout.trimRight();
+                stderr = stderr.trimRight();
 
                 callback(null, stdout, stderr);
             });
diff --git a/plugins/c9.ide.ui/lib_apf.js b/plugins/c9.ide.ui/lib_apf.js
index 78b48f4b..d4db9446 100644
--- a/plugins/c9.ide.ui/lib_apf.js
+++ b/plugins/c9.ide.ui/lib_apf.js
@@ -2978,9 +2978,25 @@ String.prototype.uCaseFirst = function(){
  *
  * @type {String}
  */
-String.prototype.trim = function(){
-    return this.replace(/[\s\n\r]*$/, "").replace(/^[\s\n\r]*/, "");
-};
+if (!String.prototype.trim) {
+    String.prototype.trim = function(){
+        return this.replace(/\s+$/, "").replace(/^\s+/, "");
+    };
+}
+/**
+ * annex b, but useful until trimStart/End are implemented by browsers
+ */
+if (!String.prototype.trimLeft) {
+    String.prototype.trimLeft = function(){
+        return this.replace(/^\s+/, "");
+    };
+}
+
+if (!String.prototype.trimRight) {
+    String.prototype.trimRight = function(){
+        return this.replace(/\s+$/, "");
+    };
+}
 
 /*
  * Concatenate a string with itself n-times.