diff --git a/modules/chat.py b/modules/chat.py
index 90231ace..a3d0d6e8 100644
--- a/modules/chat.py
+++ b/modules/chat.py
@@ -462,12 +462,17 @@ def load_character(character, name1, name2, instruct=False):
     greeting_field = 'greeting'
     picture = None
 
-    # Deleting the profile picture cache, if any
+    # Delete the profile picture cache, if any
     if Path("cache/pfp_character.png").exists() and not instruct:
         Path("cache/pfp_character.png").unlink()
 
+    if instruct:
+        name1 = name2 = ''
+        folder = 'instruction-templates'
+    else:
+        folder = 'characters'
+
     if character not in ['None', '', None]:
-        folder = 'characters' if not instruct else 'instruction-templates'
         picture = generate_pfp_cache(character)
         filepath = None
         for extension in ["yml", "yaml", "json"]: