diff --git a/tts.py b/tts.py
index 60ccc66..23ad5a2 100644
--- a/tts.py
+++ b/tts.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class IRC:
         try:
             self.irc.connect((server, port))
         except ConnectionResetError:
-            logging.fatal('Twitch refused to connect, please check your settings and try again (or just try again, as Twitch sometimes refuses to connect for no reason).')
+            logging.fatal('Twitch refused to connect, please check your settings and try again.')
             sys.exit(252)
 
         self.irc.settimeout(1)
@@ -125,6 +125,10 @@ class IRC:
                 if msg.startswith('!dtts'):
                     logging.debug("!dtts command detected")
                     user = msg.replace('!dtts', '').strip()
+
+                    if user.startswith('@'):
+                        logging.debug('Removing "@" from username')
+                        user = user.replace('@', '')
                     if user not in self.tts_denied:
                         logging.info("Adding "+str(user)+" to deny list")
                         self.tts_denied.append(user)
@@ -136,6 +140,10 @@ class IRC:
                     logging.debug("!ptts command detected")
                     user = msg.replace('!ptts', '').strip()
 
+                    if user.startswith('@'):
+                        logging.debug('Removing "@" from username')
+                        user = user.replace('@', '')
+
                     self.tts_allowed.append(user)
 
                     if user in self.tts_denied: