diff --git a/src/commands.py b/src/commands.py
index 37c6dc8..dcb3f6d 100644
--- a/src/commands.py
+++ b/src/commands.py
@@ -26,17 +26,15 @@ def start(update, context):
     chat = update.effective_chat
     database.checkUser(chat.id)
 
-    # Send help
-    context.bot.send_message(chat_id=chat.id, text=helpMsg, parse_mode="markdown")
+    return helpMsg
 
 
 def ls(update, context):
     chat = update.effective_chat
     database.checkUser(chat.id)
-
     requests = database.userRequests[chat.id]
 
-    context.bot.send_message(chat_id=update.effective_chat.id, text="Your requests: " + toJson(requests))
+    return "Your requests: " + toJson(requests)
 
 
 def touch(update, context):
diff --git a/src/utils.py b/src/utils.py
index 950cf94..54d8a21 100644
--- a/src/utils.py
+++ b/src/utils.py
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ def createCommand(method):
         data = method(update, context)
 
         # Send back data if not null
-        if data is not None and data is not '':
-            context.bot.send_message(chat_id=update.effective_chat.id, text=data)
+        if data is not None and data != '':
+            context.bot.send_message(chat_id=update.effective_chat.id, text=data, parse_mode="markdown")
 
     # Create handler for the wrapper command
     return CommandHandler(method.__name__, command, run_async=True)