diff --git a/speaker.py b/speaker.py
index f1079e9c9..ed2218714 100644
--- a/speaker.py
+++ b/speaker.py
@@ -502,6 +502,8 @@ def _postToSpeakerJson(baseDir: str, httpPrefix: str,
             follows = fp.readlines()
             if len(follows) > 0:
                 followRequestsExist = True
+                for i in range(len(follows)):
+                    follows[i] = follows[i].strip()
                 followRequestsList = follows
     postDM = False
     dmFilename = accountsDir + '/.newDM'