diff --git a/elydora/_runtime_paths.py b/elydora/_runtime_paths.py
index 3fe0bfa..03a2acf 100644
--- a/elydora/_runtime_paths.py
+++ b/elydora/_runtime_paths.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ def resolve_agent_directory(root: str, agent_id: str) -> str:
         or "/" in agent_id
         or "\\" in agent_id
         or agent_id in {".", ".."}
+        or agent_id.startswith(" ")
         or agent_id.endswith((".", " "))
         or _WINDOWS_DEVICE_NAME.match(agent_id)
     ):
diff --git a/tests/test_runtime_paths.py b/tests/test_runtime_paths.py
index 449523c..d70cafe 100644
--- a/tests/test_runtime_paths.py
+++ b/tests/test_runtime_paths.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from elydora import cli
         "C:escape",
         "agent.",
         "agent ",
+        " agent",
         "CON",
         "COM¹.log",
         ".",