diff --git a/speaker.py b/speaker.py
index b40c37dc9..f1079e9c9 100644
--- a/speaker.py
+++ b/speaker.py
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ def _postToSpeakerJson(baseDir: str, httpPrefix: str,
             follows = fp.readlines()
             if len(follows) > 0:
                 followRequestsExist = True
-                followRequestsList = follows.split('\n')
+                followRequestsList = follows
     postDM = False
     dmFilename = accountsDir + '/.newDM'
     if os.path.isfile(dmFilename):