diff --git a/notifications_client.py b/notifications_client.py
index e9877679d..925a89b7a 100644
--- a/notifications_client.py
+++ b/notifications_client.py
@@ -486,7 +486,8 @@ def _showLocalBox(notifyJson: {}, boxName: str,
             if len(notifyJson['followRequestsList']) > 0:
                 print('')
                 sayStr = indent + 'You have a follow request from ' + \
-                    '\33[7m' + notifyJson['followRequestsList'][0] + '\33[0m'
+                    '\33[7m' + \
+                    notifyJson['followRequestsList'][0].strip() + '\33[0m'
                 _sayCommand(sayStr, sayStr, screenreader, systemLanguage,
                             espeak)
                 sayStr = indent + 'Use the \33[3maccept\33[0m or ' + \
diff --git a/speaker.py b/speaker.py
index b40c37dc9..ed2218714 100644
--- a/speaker.py
+++ b/speaker.py
@@ -502,7 +502,9 @@ def _postToSpeakerJson(baseDir: str, httpPrefix: str,
             follows = fp.readlines()
             if len(follows) > 0:
                 followRequestsExist = True
-                followRequestsList = follows.split('\n')
+                for i in range(len(follows)):
+                    follows[i] = follows[i].strip()
+                followRequestsList = follows
     postDM = False
     dmFilename = accountsDir + '/.newDM'
     if os.path.isfile(dmFilename):