diff --git a/public/script.js b/public/script.js
index 059a13351..6193c0c5a 100644
--- a/public/script.js
+++ b/public/script.js
@@ -551,13 +551,13 @@ $.ajaxPrefilter((options, originalOptions, xhr) => {
 ///// initialization protocol ////////
 $.get("/csrf-token").then(async (data) => {
     token = data.token;
+    sendSystemMessage(system_message_types.WELCOME);
     await readSecretState();
     await getClientVersion();
     await getSettings("def");
+    await getUserAvatars();
     await getCharacters();
     await getBackgrounds();
-    await getUserAvatars();
-    sendSystemMessage(system_message_types.WELCOME);
 });
 
 function checkOnlineStatus() {
@@ -1183,6 +1183,10 @@ function scrollChatToBottom() {
 function substituteParams(content, _name1, _name2) {
     _name1 = _name1 ?? name1;
     _name2 = _name2 ?? name2;
+    if (!content) {
+        console.warn("No content on substituteParams")
+        return ''
+    }
 
     content = content.replace(/{{user}}/gi, _name1);
     content = content.replace(/{{char}}/gi, _name2);