diff --git a/toml/decoder.py b/toml/decoder.py
index a24c04a..739f9a4 100644
--- a/toml/decoder.py
+++ b/toml/decoder.py
@@ -370,8 +370,9 @@ def loads(s, _dict=dict, decoder=None):
 
         decoder.embed_comments(idx, currentlevel)
 
+        stripped_line = line.strip()
         if not multilinestr or multibackslash or '\n' not in multilinestr:
-            line = line.strip()
+            line = stripped_line
         if line == "" and (not multikey or multibackslash):
             continue
         if multikey:
@@ -379,6 +380,7 @@ def loads(s, _dict=dict, decoder=None):
                 multilinestr += line
             else:
                 multilinestr += line
+            line = stripped_line
             multibackslash = False
             closed = False
             if multilinestr[0] == '[':