diff --git a/tests/test_keys.py b/tests/test_keys.py
index 5e8b1c12..e4a6cb0e 100755
--- a/tests/test_keys.py
+++ b/tests/test_keys.py
@@ -98,6 +98,31 @@ def test_format_keyval_to_metadata(self):
     self.assertRaises(tuf.FormatError, KEYS.format_keyval_to_metadata,
                       keytype, keyvalue)
     keyvalue['public'] = public
+  
+  
+  
+  def test_format_rsakey_from_pem(self):
+    pem = self.rsakey_dict['keyval']['public']
+    rsa_key = KEYS.format_rsakey_from_pem(pem)
+    
+    # Check if the format of the object returned by this function corresponds
+    # to 'tuf.formats.RSAKEY_SCHEMA' format.
+    self.assertTrue(tuf.formats.RSAKEY_SCHEMA.matches(rsa_key)) 
+    
+    # Verify whitespace is stripped.
+    self.assertEqual(rsa_key, KEYS.format_rsakey_from_pem(pem + '\n'))
+
+    # Supplying a 'bad_pem' argument.
+    self.assertRaises(tuf.FormatError, KEYS.format_rsakey_from_pem, 'bad_pem')
+
+    # Supplying an improperly formatted PEM.
+    # Strip the PEM header and footer.
+    pem_header = '-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----'
+    pem_footer= '-----END PUBLIC KEY-----'
+    self.assertRaises(tuf.FormatError, KEYS.format_rsakey_from_pem,
+                      pem[:len(pem_footer)])
+    self.assertRaises(tuf.FormatError, KEYS.format_rsakey_from_pem,
+                      pem[len(pem_header):])
 
 
 
diff --git a/tuf/keys.py b/tuf/keys.py
index c3af4d66..acc44247 100755
--- a/tuf/keys.py
+++ b/tuf/keys.py
@@ -977,7 +977,7 @@ def format_rsakey_from_pem(pem):
     
     {'keytype': 'rsa',
      'keyid': keyid,
-     'keyval': {'public': '-----BEGIN RSA PUBLIC KEY----- ...',
+     'keyval': {'public': '-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY----- ...',
                 'private': ''}}
     
     The public portion of the RSA key is a string in PEM format.
@@ -997,7 +997,9 @@ def format_rsakey_from_pem(pem):
     tuf.FormatError, if 'pem' is improperly formatted.
 
   <Side Effects>
-    None.
+    Only the public portion of the PEM is extracted.  Leading or trailing
+    whitespace is not included in the PEM string stored in the rsakey object
+    returned.
 
   <Returns>
     A dictionary containing the RSA keys and other identifying information.
@@ -1010,16 +1012,43 @@ def format_rsakey_from_pem(pem):
   # Raise 'tuf.FormatError' if the check fails.
   tuf.formats.PEMRSA_SCHEMA.check_match(pem)
   
-  # Ensure the PEM string starts with the required number of dashes.  Although
-  # a simple validation of 'pem' is performed here, a fully valid PEM string is
-  # needed to successfully verify signatures.
-  if not pem.startswith('-----'):
-    raise tuf.FormatError('The PEM string argument is improperly formatted.') 
+  # Ensure the PEM string has a valid header and footer.  Although a simple
+  # validation of 'pem' is performed here, a fully valid PEM string is
+  # needed to later successfully verify signatures.
+  pem_header = '-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----'
+  pem_footer = '-----END PUBLIC KEY-----'
+  header_start = 0
+  footer_start = 0
+
+  # Raise error message if the expected header or footer is not found in 'pem'.
+  try:
+    header_start = pem.index(pem_header)
   
+  except ValueError:
+    message = \
+      'Required PEM header ' + repr(pem_header) + '\n not found in PEM' + \
+      ' string: ' + repr(pem) 
+    raise tuf.FormatError(message)
+  
+  try:
+    # Search for 'pem_footer' after the PEM header.
+    footer_start = pem.index(pem_footer, header_start + len(pem_header))
+  
+  except ValueError:
+    message = \
+      'Required PEM footer ' + repr(pem_footer) + '\n not found in PEM' + \
+      ' string ' + repr(pem)
+    raise tuf.FormatError(message)
+  
+  # Extract only the public portion of 'pem'.  Leading or trailing whitespace
+  # is not included.
+  public_pem = pem[header_start:footer_start + len(pem_footer)] 
+
+
   # Begin building the RSA key dictionary. 
   rsakey_dict = {}
   keytype = 'rsa'
-  public = pem 
+  public = public_pem 
 
   # Generate the keyid of the RSA key.  'key_value' corresponds to the
   # 'keyval' entry of the 'RSAKEY_SCHEMA' dictionary.  The private key