diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 4ad540e..a0e5c4b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 - add docstrings to `Bot`
 - change `KILL_REPLY` and `RESTART_REPLY` to be optional in `Bot`
+- fix echobot example
 - fix imports
 
 ## 1.1.3 (2019-04-19)
diff --git a/examples/echo/bot.conf b/examples/echo/bot.conf
index 8d48222..940e8e4 100644
--- a/examples/echo/bot.conf
+++ b/examples/echo/bot.conf
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 [general]
 nick = EchoBot
+cookie_file = bot.cookie
 
 [rooms]
 test
diff --git a/examples/echo/echobot.py b/examples/echo/echobot.py
index 4804992..e404f3c 100644
--- a/examples/echo/echobot.py
+++ b/examples/echo/echobot.py
@@ -8,13 +8,14 @@ class EchoBot(yaboli.Bot):
             "!echo <text> – reply with exactly <text>",
     ]
 
-    def __init__(self, config_file):
-        super().__init__(config_file)
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.register_botrulez(kill=True)
         self.register_general("echo", self.cmd_echo)
 
     async def cmd_echo(self, room, message, args):
-        await message.reply(args.raw)
+        text = args.raw.strip() # ignoring leading and trailing whitespace
+        await message.reply(text)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":