diff --git a/evennia/server/portal/telnet.py b/evennia/server/portal/telnet.py
index a579e001e7..dbccf5e5b2 100644
--- a/evennia/server/portal/telnet.py
+++ b/evennia/server/portal/telnet.py
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ class TelnetProtocol(Telnet, StatefulTelnetProtocol, Session):
         # escape IAC in line mode, and correctly add \r\n
         line += self.delimiter
         line = line.replace(IAC, IAC + IAC).replace('\n', '\r\n')
-        return self.transport.write(mccp_compress(self, line))
+        return self.transport.write(mccp_compress(self, line + IAC + GA))
 
     # Session hooks
 
diff --git a/evennia/server/portal/telnet_oob.py b/evennia/server/portal/telnet_oob.py
index 7e450c4aa2..c1c2e6fc80 100644
--- a/evennia/server/portal/telnet_oob.py
+++ b/evennia/server/portal/telnet_oob.py
@@ -47,7 +47,11 @@ IAC = chr(255)
 SB = chr(250)
 SE = chr(240)
 
-force_str = lambda inp: to_str(inp, force_string=True)
+
+def force_str(inp):
+    """Helper to shorten code"""
+    return to_str(inp, force_string=True)
+
 
 # pre-compiled regexes
 # returns 2-tuple