diff --git a/joint_teapot/teapot.py b/joint_teapot/teapot.py
index 1735e24..ac8756e 100644
--- a/joint_teapot/teapot.py
+++ b/joint_teapot/teapot.py
@@ -366,7 +366,11 @@ class Teapot:
         time_windows = []
         valid_items = []
         for item in items:
+            if "=" not in item:
+                continue
             name, values = item.split("=")
+            if ":" not in values:
+                continue
             max_count, time_period = map(int, values.split(":"))
             if max_count < 0 or time_period < 0:
                 continue
diff --git a/joint_teapot/utils/joj3.py b/joint_teapot/utils/joj3.py
index d61ac8a..f31e7a9 100644
--- a/joint_teapot/utils/joj3.py
+++ b/joint_teapot/utils/joj3.py
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ def get_title_prefix(
 def parse_penalty_config(penalty_config: str) -> List[Tuple[float, float]]:
     res = []
     for penalty in penalty_config.split(","):
-        if not penalty.strip():
+        if "=" not in penalty:
             continue
         hour, factor = map(float, penalty.split("="))
         res.append((hour, factor))