diff --git a/src/channelManager.ts b/src/channelManager.ts
index ee7490d..08a229d 100644
--- a/src/channelManager.ts
+++ b/src/channelManager.ts
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class ChannelManager {
     var index = 0
 
     for (let channel of this.channels) {
-      if (channel.clients.length == 0) {
+      if (channel.clients.length == 0 && channel.id != 'default') {
         this.channels.splice(index, 1);
         logger.accessLog.info(`channel removed: ${channel.id}`);
       }
diff --git a/src/channels/channelBase.ts b/src/channels/channelBase.ts
index 14d0455..ce85ff2 100644
--- a/src/channels/channelBase.ts
+++ b/src/channels/channelBase.ts
@@ -52,9 +52,9 @@ class ChannelBase {
     for (let client of this.clients) {
       if (client != from) {
         client.ws.send(message);
-        logger.accessLog.info(`sent to ${client.id}: `, {message: message});
+        logger.accessLog.info(`sent to ${client.id}`, { data: { message: message }});
       } else {
-        logger.accessLog.info(`client is same as sender: ${client.id} - `, {message: message});
+        logger.accessLog.info(`client is same as sender: ${client.id}`, { data: { message: message }});
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/channels/sites/mhsChannel.ts b/src/channels/sites/mhsChannel.ts
index 3d9ba30..c8787fd 100644
--- a/src/channels/sites/mhsChannel.ts
+++ b/src/channels/sites/mhsChannel.ts
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ class MHSChannel extends ChannelBase {
       for (let client of this.clients) {
         if (client != from && client.data.user_type == 'teacher') {
           client.ws.send(message);
-          logger.accessLog.info(`sent to ${client.id}: `, {message: message});
+          logger.accessLog.info(`sent to ${client.id}`, { data: { message: message }});
         } else {
-          logger.accessLog.info(`client either not a teacher or is the sender: ${client.id} - `, {message: message});
+          logger.accessLog.info(`client either not a teacher or is the sender: ${client.id}`, { data: { message: message }});
         }
       }
     }