diff --git a/deck/chat.py b/deck/chat.py
index 3cc1827..976992a 100644
--- a/deck/chat.py
+++ b/deck/chat.py
@@ -9,16 +9,13 @@ try:
 except:
   pass
 
-def _echo(msg, state):
-  return msg, state
-
 class DeckChat:
   def __init__(self, start_state={}, chat_prefix='> ', command_prefix='/', paginate=0):
     """Init the chat class"""
     self.command_prefix = command_prefix # prefix that commands start with
     self.chat_prefix = chat_prefix       # prefix to write before input
     self.command_handlers = {            # command handler storage
-      'default': _echo                   # echo handler by default
+      'default': lambda m,s: (m,s)       # echo handler by default
     }
     self.state = start_state             # internal state object (impl-specific)
     self.paginate_n = paginate           # paginate the responses exceeding N>0 lines