diff --git a/bot.py b/bot.py
index d93ff15..b3fb72d 100755
--- a/bot.py
+++ b/bot.py
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ def join_irc(ircsock, botnick, channel):
 def msg_handler(ircsock):  # pragma: no cover  (this excludes this function from testing)
     new_msg = ircsock.recv(2048)  # receive data from the server
     new_msg = new_msg.strip('\n\r')  # removing any unnecessary linebreaks
-    print(datetime.datetime.now().isoformat() + " " + new_msg) #### Potentially make this a log instead?
+    if new_msg != '':
+        print(datetime.datetime.now().isoformat() + " " + new_msg) #### Potentially make this a log instead?
     return new_msg
 
 # Called by bot on startup.  Builds a regex that matches one of the options + (space) botnick.
diff --git a/bot.sh b/bot.sh
index f1eb13d..0093703 100755
--- a/bot.sh
+++ b/bot.sh
@@ -10,6 +10,4 @@ cd "$BINDIR"
 
 #nohup /srv/welcomebot/git/bot.py >> /dev/null 2>>../welcomebot.log &
 
-nohup "$BINDIR/bot.py" 2>&1 | grep -v "^$" >> "$HOMEDIR/welcomebot.log" &
-
-
+nohup "$BINDIR/bot.py" > /dev/null 2>>"$HOMEDIR/welcomebot.log" &