diff --git a/syncplay/client.py b/syncplay/client.py
index 8854850..821d08b 100644
--- a/syncplay/client.py
+++ b/syncplay/client.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import os.path
 import random
 import string
 import time
+import re
 from twisted.internet.protocol import ClientFactory
 from twisted.internet import reactor, task
 from syncplay.protocols import SyncClientProtocol
@@ -427,7 +428,14 @@ class SyncplayClient(object):
         self._protocol.requestControlledRoom(controlPassword)
         self.ui.updateRoomName(roomName)
 
+    def stripControlPassword(self, controlPassword):
+        if controlPassword:
+            return re.sub(constants.CONTROL_PASSWORD_STRIP_REGEX, "", controlPassword).upper()
+        else:
+            return ""
+
     def identifyAsController(self, controlPassword):
+        controlPassword = self.stripControlPassword(controlPassword)
         self.ui.showMessage(u"Identifying as room controller with password '{}'...".format(controlPassword))
         self._protocol.requestControlledRoom(controlPassword)
 
diff --git a/syncplay/constants.py b/syncplay/constants.py
index 0e6b66d..c2473ad 100644
--- a/syncplay/constants.py
+++ b/syncplay/constants.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ MERGE_PLAYPAUSE_BUTTONS = False
 SYNC_ON_PAUSE = True  # Client seek to global position - subtitles may disappear on some media players
 #Usually there's no need to adjust these
 FILENAME_STRIP_REGEX = u"[-~_\.\[\](): ]"
+CONTROL_PASSWORD_STRIP_REGEX = u"[^a-zA-Z0-9\-]"
 COMMANDS_UNDO = ["u", "undo", "revert"]
 COMMANDS_LIST = ["l", "list", "users"]
 COMMANDS_PAUSE = ["p", "play", "pause"]