diff --git a/utilities/utils.py b/utilities/utils.py
index c2d5860..0ed6324 100644
--- a/utilities/utils.py
+++ b/utilities/utils.py
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ def format_highscore_message(group: CategoryGroup) -> str:
     # also grab the max category size
     categories = []
     category_ids = []
-    max_cat_size = 0
+    max_cat_size: int = 0
     pad_length = group.PadLength
     for cat in session.scalars(stmt):
         if cat.Size > max_cat_size:
@@ -257,19 +257,25 @@ def format_highscore_message(group: CategoryGroup) -> str:
     # need to use index to allow for modifying the list
     for ind, line in enumerate(str_list):
         if len(line) > MAX_LINE_LENGTH:
+
             split_loc = int(MAX_LINE_LENGTH / pad_length) * pad_length
             new_line = line[split_loc:]
             str_list[ind] = line[:split_loc]
             str_list.append(new_line)
-            if ind + 1 / max_cat_size == 0:
-                str_list.append("\n")
 
     # this list can now be placed into the format message function in the bot
-    for string in str_list:
+    for ind, string in enumerate(str_list):
         # rstrip to clear unneeded spaces
         # add newline here for each string
         ret_string += string.rstrip() + "\n"
 
+        # add extra newline at category split unless there is already a space.
+        if ((ind + 1) % (max_cat_size + 1)) == 0:
+            # checking inside the other if to ensure called as little as possible.
+            if not ret_string.endswith("\n\n"):
+                ret_string += "\n"
+
+    print(ret_string)
     return ret_string + "```"