diff --git a/aiserver.py b/aiserver.py
index 39fe9662..7704c742 100644
--- a/aiserver.py
+++ b/aiserver.py
@@ -6142,6 +6142,9 @@ def applyoutputformatting(txt, no_sentence_trimming=False):
     # Replace blank lines
     if(koboldai_vars.frmtrmblln or koboldai_vars.chatmode):
         txt = utils.replaceblanklines(txt)
+    # trim off starting new lines in replies if we're in chat mode
+    if koboldai_vars.chatmode and txt[0] == "\n":
+        txt = txt[1:]
     # Remove special characters
     if(koboldai_vars.frmtrmspch):
         txt = utils.removespecialchars(txt, koboldai_vars)
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 15dd9307..dc738e89 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -92,8 +92,7 @@ def trimincompletesentence(txt):
 # 
 #==================================================================#
 def replaceblanklines(txt):
-    txt = txt.replace("\n\n", "\n")
-    return txt
+    return txt.replace("\n\n", "\n")
 
 #==================================================================#
 # 
@@ -131,8 +130,8 @@ def addsentencespacing(txt, koboldai_vars):
 def singlelineprocessing(txt, koboldai_vars):
     txt = koboldai_vars.regex_sl.sub('', txt)
     if(len(koboldai_vars.actions) > 0):
-        if(len(koboldai_vars.actions[koboldai_vars.actions.get_last_key()]) > 0):
-            action = koboldai_vars.actions[koboldai_vars.actions.get_last_key()]
+        if(len(koboldai_vars.actions[-1]) > 0):
+            action = koboldai_vars.actions[-1]
             lastchar = action[-1] if len(action) else ""
         else:
             # Last action is blank, this should never happen, but