diff --git a/go/characters/cwtchlistener.go b/go/characters/cwtchlistener.go
index 1bb21fe..4320f41 100644
--- a/go/characters/cwtchlistener.go
+++ b/go/characters/cwtchlistener.go
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 package characters
 
 import (
-	"cwtch.im/cwtch/model"
-		"bounce/go/the"
 	"bounce/go/gobjects"
+	"bounce/go/the"
+	"cwtch.im/cwtch/model"
 )
 
 func CwtchListener(callback func(message *gobjects.Message), groupID string, channel chan model.Message) {
@@ -14,17 +14,14 @@ func CwtchListener(callback func(message *gobjects.Message), groupID string, cha
 		if name == the.Peer.GetProfile().Onion {
 			name = "me"
 		} else {
-			var exists bool // lol this is a golang antifeature
-			name, exists = the.Peer.GetContact(m.PeerID).GetAttribute("name")
-			if !exists {
-				name = ""
+			contact := the.Peer.GetContact(m.PeerID)
+			if contact != nil {
+				name, _ = contact.GetAttribute("name")
+			} else {
+				name = m.PeerID[:16] + "..."
 			}
 		}
 
-		if name == "" {
-			name = m.PeerID[:16] + "..."
-		}
-
 		callback(&gobjects.Message{
 			groupID,
 			m.PeerID,
@@ -36,4 +33,4 @@ func CwtchListener(callback func(message *gobjects.Message), groupID string, cha
 			m.Timestamp,
 		})
 	}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}