diff --git a/mesh_bot.py b/mesh_bot.py
index 4d2a37e..29c42dc 100755
--- a/mesh_bot.py
+++ b/mesh_bot.py
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ def handle_echo(message, message_from_id, deviceID, isDM, channel_number):
         parts = message.split("echo ", 1)
         if len(parts) > 1 and parts[1].strip() != "":
             echo_msg = parts[1]
-            if echoChannel and channel_number != echoChannel:
+            if channel_number != echoChannel:
                 echo_msg = "@" + get_name_from_number(message_from_id, 'short', deviceID) + " " + echo_msg
             return echo_msg
         else:
diff --git a/pong_bot.py b/pong_bot.py
index f4f6712..893a326 100755
--- a/pong_bot.py
+++ b/pong_bot.py
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ def handle_echo(message, message_from_id, deviceID, isDM, channel_number):
         parts = message.split("echo ", 1)
         if len(parts) > 1 and parts[1].strip() != "":
             echo_msg = parts[1]
-            if echoChannel and channel_number != echoChannel:
+            if channel_number != echoChannel:
                 echo_msg = "@" + get_name_from_number(message_from_id, 'short', deviceID) + " " + echo_msg
             return echo_msg
         else: