diff --git a/modules/settings.py b/modules/settings.py
index 8f07862..2487438 100644
--- a/modules/settings.py
+++ b/modules/settings.py
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ location_enabled = config['location'].getboolean('enabled', False)
 latitudeValue = config['location'].getfloat('lat', 48.50)
 longitudeValue = config['location'].getfloat('lon', -123.0)
 zuluTime = config['general'].getboolean('zuluTime', False)
-welcome_message = config['general'].get('welcome_message', WELCOME_MSG)
+welcome_message = config['general'].get(f'welcome_message', WELCOME_MSG)
+welcome_message = (f"{welcome_message}").replace('\\n', '\n') # allow for newlines in the welcome message
 solar_conditions_enabled = config['solar'].getboolean('enabled', False)
 bbs_enabled = config['bbs'].getboolean('enabled', False)
 bbsdb = config['bbs'].get('bbsdb', 'bbsdb.pkl')