diff --git a/base/proposal.dtx b/base/proposal.dtx
index 7740254..8d8a0fb 100644
--- a/base/proposal.dtx
+++ b/base/proposal.dtx
@@ -1419,9 +1419,11 @@
 %    \end{macrocode}
 % and we list the partners who contribute if they are specified. 
 %    \begin{macrocode}
-\if@sites;%
+\if@sites%
+\ifx\task@title\@empty\else;\ \fi% deal with spaces and separator
 \ifx\task@lead\@empty\else\ \task@legend@partners\site\task@lead~(\legend@lead)%
-\@for\@I:=\task@partners\do{, \site\@I}\\\fi%
+\@for\@I:=\task@partners\do{, \site\@I}\\%
+\fi% if@sites
 %    \end{macrocode}
 % if there are no partners, then we show the RM/RAM contributions specified (if any)
 %    \begin{macrocode}
diff --git a/base/proposal.pdf b/base/proposal.pdf
index dfe8d96..3f6faed 100644
Binary files a/base/proposal.pdf and b/base/proposal.pdf differ
diff --git a/base/proposal.sty b/base/proposal.sty
index 49f5397..1325139 100644
--- a/base/proposal.sty
+++ b/base/proposal.sty
@@ -354,9 +354,11 @@
 \fi% initial
 \fi% \if@taskshowwps
 \ifsubmit\else\ifx\task@PM\@empty\else; \task@PM~\task@legend@PM\fi\fi%
-\if@sites;%
+\if@sites%
+\ifx\task@title\@empty\else;\ \fi% deal with spaces and separator
 \ifx\task@lead\@empty\else\ \task@legend@partners\site\task@lead~(\legend@lead)%
-\@for\@I:=\task@partners\do{, \site\@I}\\\fi%
+\@for\@I:=\task@partners\do{, \site\@I}\\%
+\fi% if@sites
 \ifx\task@partners\@empty
 \xdef\@@involvement{}\xdef\@@inv{}%
 \xdef\@@sep{, }\def\m@sep{}% do not show the sep the first time around