diff --git a/src/main/java/land/chipmunk/chipmunkmod/modules/CustomChat.java b/src/main/java/land/chipmunk/chipmunkmod/modules/CustomChat.java
index e38b08c..1862d42 100644
--- a/src/main/java/land/chipmunk/chipmunkmod/modules/CustomChat.java
+++ b/src/main/java/land/chipmunk/chipmunkmod/modules/CustomChat.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package land.chipmunk.chipmunkmod.modules;
 
+import com.google.gson.JsonElement;
 import land.chipmunk.chipmunkmod.ChipmunkMod;
 import land.chipmunk.chipmunkmod.data.MutablePlayerListEntry;
 import lombok.Getter;
@@ -18,10 +19,15 @@ public class CustomChat {
 
     @Getter @Setter private boolean enabled = true;
 
-    @Getter @Setter private String format = ChipmunkMod.CONFIG.customChat.format.toString();
+    @Getter @Setter private String format;
 
     public CustomChat (MinecraftClient client) {
         this.client = client;
+
+        final JsonElement formatString = ChipmunkMod.CONFIG.customChat.format;
+
+        if (formatString == null) format = "{\"translate\":\"chat.type.text\",\"with\":[\"USERNAME\",\"MESSAGE\"]}";
+        else format = formatString.toString();
     }
 
     public void chat (String message) {