diff --git a/code/modules/antagonists/cult/runes.dm b/code/modules/antagonists/cult/runes.dm
index f1d1ea22aaf..195ffea6059 100644
--- a/code/modules/antagonists/cult/runes.dm
+++ b/code/modules/antagonists/cult/runes.dm
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ Runes can either be invoked by one's self or with many different cultists. Each
 /obj/effect/rune/examine(mob/user)
 	. = ..()
 	if(iscultist(user) || user.stat == DEAD) //If they're a cultist or a ghost, tell them the effects
-		. += {"<b>Name:</b> [cultist_name]\n
-		<b>Effects:</b> [capitalize(cultist_desc)]\n
-		<b>Required Acolytes:</b> [req_cultists_text ? "[req_cultists_text]":"[req_cultists]"]"}
+		. += "<b>Name:</b> [cultist_name]\n"+\
+		"<b>Effects:</b> [capitalize(cultist_desc)]\n"+\
+		"<b>Required Acolytes:</b> [req_cultists_text ? "[req_cultists_text]":"[req_cultists]"]"
 		if(req_keyword && keyword)
 			. += "<b>Keyword:</b> [keyword]"
 
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/examine.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/examine.dm
index 06b19802bb8..e0f90915369 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/examine.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/examine.dm
@@ -95,7 +95,9 @@
 		. += "[t_He] [t_is] wearing [wear_id.get_examine_string(user)]."
 
 	//Status effects
-	. += status_effect_examines()
+	var/list/status_examines = status_effect_examines()
+	if (length(status_examines))
+		. += status_examines
 
 	//Jitters
 	switch(jitteriness)
@@ -124,7 +126,7 @@
 
 	var/temp = getBruteLoss() //no need to calculate each of these twice
 
-	var/list/msg = list("")
+	var/list/msg = list()
 
 	var/list/missing = list(BODY_ZONE_HEAD, BODY_ZONE_CHEST, BODY_ZONE_L_ARM, BODY_ZONE_R_ARM, BODY_ZONE_L_LEG, BODY_ZONE_R_LEG)
 	var/list/disabled = list()
@@ -343,7 +345,7 @@
 							"<a href='?src=[REF(src)];hud=s;view_comment=1'>\[View comment log\]</a>",
 							"<a href='?src=[REF(src)];hud=s;add_comment=1'>\[Add comment\]</a>"), "")
 	else if(isobserver(user) && traitstring)
-		. += "<span class='info'><b>Traits:</b> [traitstring]</span><br>"
+		. += "<span class='info'><b>Traits:</b> [traitstring]</span>"
 	. += "*---------*</span>"
 
 /mob/living/proc/status_effect_examines(pronoun_replacement) //You can include this in any mob's examine() to show the examine texts of status effects!