diff --git a/files/routes/awards.py b/files/routes/awards.py
index 3909bf555..5c3b9873f 100644
--- a/files/routes/awards.py
+++ b/files/routes/awards.py
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ def award_thing(v, thing_type, id):
 		return {"error": "User is already permanently marsified!"}, 403
 
 	if v.id != author.id:
-		safe_username = if thing.ghost then "The post's author" else f"@{author.username}"
+		safe_username = "👻" if thing.ghost else f"@{author.username}"
 		
 		if author.deflector and v.deflector:
 			msg = f"@{v.username} has tried to give your [{thing_type}]({thing.shortlink}) the {AWARDS[kind]['title']} Award but it was deflected on them, they also had a deflector up, so it bounced back and forth until it vaporized!"