diff --git a/nicegui/element.py b/nicegui/element.py
index 3cb5479ef..0375b454d 100644
--- a/nicegui/element.py
+++ b/nicegui/element.py
@@ -98,7 +98,13 @@ def classes(self, add: Optional[str] = None, *, remove: Optional[str] = None, re
 
     @staticmethod
     def _parse_style(text: Optional[str]) -> Dict[str, str]:
-        return dict(_split(part, ':') for part in text.strip('; ').split(';')) if text else {}
+        result = {}
+        for word in (text or '').split(';'):
+            word = word.strip()
+            if word:
+                key, value = word.split(':', 1)
+                result[key.strip()] = value.strip()
+        return result
 
     def style(self, add: Optional[str] = None, *, remove: Optional[str] = None, replace: Optional[str] = None):
         '''CSS style sheet definitions to modify the look of the element.
@@ -211,8 +217,3 @@ def delete(self) -> None:
 
         Can be overridden to perform cleanup.
         """
-
-
-def _split(text: str, separator: str) -> Tuple[str, str]:
-    words = text.split(separator, 1)
-    return words[0].strip(), words[1].strip()
diff --git a/tests/test_element.py b/tests/test_element.py
index 19567ad2c..7e32e93ad 100644
--- a/tests/test_element.py
+++ b/tests/test_element.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ def assert_classes(classes: str) -> None:
 
 
 def test_style_parsing():
+    assert Element._parse_style(None) == {}
     assert Element._parse_style('color: red; background-color: green') == {'color': 'red', 'background-color': 'green'}
     assert Element._parse_style('width:12em;height:34.5em') == {'width': '12em', 'height': '34.5em'}
     assert Element._parse_style('transform: translate(120.0px, 50%)') == {'transform': 'translate(120.0px, 50%)'}