Index: src/wp-admin/js/customize-controls.js
===================================================================
--- src/wp-admin/js/customize-controls.js	(revision 41984)
+++ src/wp-admin/js/customize-controls.js	(working copy)
@@ -1842,7 +1842,6 @@
 					if ( ! section.expanded() ) {
 						section.expand();
 					}
-					section.checkTerm( section );
 				});
 
 				// Feature filters.
@@ -2208,7 +2207,7 @@
 			var newTerm;
 			if ( 'remote' === section.params.filter_type ) {
 				newTerm = section.contentContainer.find( '.wp-filter-search' ).val();
-				if ( section.term !== newTerm ) {
+				if ( section.term !== newTerm.trim() ) {
 					section.initializeNewQuery( newTerm, section.tags );
 				}
 			}