diff --git a/command_handlers.py b/command_handlers.py
index 95f4e0a..798c110 100644
--- a/command_handlers.py
+++ b/command_handlers.py
@@ -111,8 +111,12 @@ def handle_fortune_command(sender_id, interface):
 
 
 def handle_stats_steps(sender_id, message, step, interface):
+    message = message.lower().strip()
+    if len(message) == 2 and message[1] == 'x':
+        message = message[0]
+
     if step == 1:
-        choice = message.lower()
+        choice = message
         if choice == 'x':
             handle_help_command(sender_id, interface)
             return
@@ -155,7 +159,6 @@ def handle_stats_steps(sender_id, message, step, interface):
             handle_stats_command(sender_id, interface)
 
 
-
 def handle_bb_steps(sender_id, message, step, state, interface, bbs_nodes):
     boards = {0: "General", 1: "Info", 2: "News", 3: "Urgent"}
     if step == 1:
@@ -225,8 +228,12 @@ def handle_bb_steps(sender_id, message, step, state, interface, bbs_nodes):
 
 
 def handle_mail_steps(sender_id, message, step, state, interface, bbs_nodes):
+    message = message.lower().strip()
+    if len(message) == 2 and message[1] == 'x':
+        message = message[0]
+
     if step == 1:
-        choice = message.lower()
+        choice = message
         if choice == 'r':
             sender_node_id = get_node_id_from_num(sender_id, interface)
             mail = get_mail(sender_node_id)
@@ -353,8 +360,12 @@ def handle_channel_directory_command(sender_id, interface):
 
 
 def handle_channel_directory_steps(sender_id, message, step, state, interface):
+    message = message.lower().strip()
+    if len(message) == 2 and message[1] == 'x':
+        message = message[0]
+
     if step == 1:
-        choice = message.lower()
+        choice = message
         if choice == 'x':
             handle_help_command(sender_id, interface)
             return
@@ -473,7 +484,10 @@ def handle_read_mail_command(sender_id, message, state, interface):
 
 def handle_delete_mail_confirmation(sender_id, message, state, interface, bbs_nodes):
     try:
-        choice = message.lower()
+        choice = message.lower().strip()
+        if len(choice) == 2 and choice[1] == 'x':
+            choice = choice[0]
+
         if choice == 'd':
             unique_id = state['unique_id']
             sender_node_id = get_node_id_from_num(sender_id, interface)
@@ -493,6 +507,7 @@ def handle_delete_mail_confirmation(sender_id, message, state, interface, bbs_no
         send_message("Error processing delete mail confirmation.", sender_id, interface)
 
 
+
 def handle_post_bulletin_command(sender_id, message, interface, bbs_nodes):
     try:
         parts = message.split(",,", 3)
diff --git a/js8call_integration.py b/js8call_integration.py
index bf0a0cc..9cbc787 100644
--- a/js8call_integration.py
+++ b/js8call_integration.py
@@ -214,15 +214,19 @@ class JS8CallClient:
         self.connected = False
 
 
-
 def handle_js8call_command(sender_id, interface):
     response = "JS8Call Menu:\n[G]roup Messages\n[S]tation Messages\n[U]rgent Messages\nE[X]IT"
     send_message(response, sender_id, interface)
     update_user_state(sender_id, {'command': 'JS8CALL_MENU', 'step': 1})
 
+
 def handle_js8call_steps(sender_id, message, step, interface, state):
+    message = message.lower().strip()
+    if len(message) == 2 and message[1] == 'x':
+        message = message[0]
+
     if step == 1:
-        choice = message.lower()
+        choice = message
         if choice == 'x':
             handle_help_command(sender_id, interface, 'bbs')
             return
@@ -236,6 +240,8 @@ def handle_js8call_steps(sender_id, message, step, interface, state):
             send_message("Invalid option. Please choose again.", sender_id, interface)
             handle_js8call_command(sender_id, interface)
 
+
+
 def handle_group_messages_command(sender_id, interface):
     conn = sqlite3.connect('js8call.db')
     c = conn.cursor()
diff --git a/message_processing.py b/message_processing.py
index d2cc379..e9b7440 100644
--- a/message_processing.py
+++ b/message_processing.py
@@ -55,9 +55,13 @@ board_action_handlers = {
 
 def process_message(sender_id, message, interface, is_sync_message=False):
     state = get_user_state(sender_id)
-    message_lower = message.lower()
+    message_lower = message.lower().strip()
     bbs_nodes = interface.bbs_nodes
 
+    # Handle repeated characters for single character commands using a prefix
+    if len(message_lower) == 2 and message_lower[1] == 'x':
+        message_lower = message_lower[0]
+
     if is_sync_message:
         if message.startswith("BULLETIN|"):
             parts = message.split("|")
@@ -164,11 +168,10 @@ def process_message(sender_id, message, interface, is_sync_message=False):
                     handle_js8call_steps(sender_id, message, step, interface, state)
                 elif command == 'GROUP_MESSAGES':
                     handle_group_message_selection(sender_id, message, step, state, interface)
-                else:
-                    handle_help_command(sender_id, interface)
             else:
                 handle_help_command(sender_id, interface)
 
+
 def on_receive(packet, interface):
     try:
         if 'decoded' in packet and packet['decoded']['portnum'] == 'TEXT_MESSAGE_APP':