\unprotect
\def\dodoredefinenotecommands#1#2#3%
  {\unexpanded\expandafter\def\csname\e!start#3#1\expandafter\endcsname\expandafter
     {\expandafter\dosingleempty\csname\s!do\e!start#3#1\endcsname}%
   \unexpanded\expandafter\def\csname\s!do\e!start#3#1\expandafter\endcsname
        \expandafter[\expandafter##\expandafter1\expandafter]\expandafter##\expandafter2\csname\e!stop#3#1\endcsname
     {\begingroup
      \doenumerationinit{#1}{#2}{#3}%
      \@@notemakedescription[##1]{}{##2}%
      \endgroup\autoinsertnextspace}}

\definenote [\v!footnote]

\protect

\starttext
let see if\startfootnote Footnote \stopfootnote the space goobled.

let see if
\startfootnote Footnote \stopfootnote
the space goobled.
\stoptext