diff --git a/modsde.py b/modsde.py
index 1cdaa25..3e3a39b 100644
--- a/modsde.py
+++ b/modsde.py
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@ import re
 import http.cookiejar
 import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 
-class LoginError(Exception):
-    pass
-
 class ModsDeChecker(object):
     """ 
     This class returns i3status parsable output of the number of
@@ -33,6 +30,7 @@ class ModsDeChecker(object):
         "username": "",
         "password": "",
         "offset": 0,
+        "format": "%d new posts in bookmarks"
     }
 
     def __init__(self, settings = None):
@@ -51,10 +49,12 @@ class ModsDeChecker(object):
             if not unread:
                 self.output = None
             else:
-                self.output = {"full_text" : "%d new posts in bookmarks" % unread, 
+                self.output = {
+                    "full_text" : self.settings["format"] % unread, 
                     "name" : "modsde",
                     "urgent" : "true",
-                    "color" : self.settings["color"]}
+                    "color" : self.settings["color"]
+                }
 
             time.sleep(self.settings["pause"])
 
diff --git a/thunderbirdnewmail.py b/thunderbirdnewmail.py
index d6171d3..667df9e 100644
--- a/thunderbirdnewmail.py
+++ b/thunderbirdnewmail.py
@@ -22,9 +22,15 @@ class ThunderbirdMailChecker(object):
     async = True
     output = None
 
+    settings = {
+        "format": "%d new email"
+    }
+
     unread = set()
 
-    def __init__(self):
+    def __init__(self, settings):
+        self.settings.update(settings)
+
         dbus.mainloop.glib.DBusGMainLoop(set_as_default=True)
         bus = dbus.SessionBus()
         bus.add_signal_receiver(self.new_msg,
@@ -61,10 +67,12 @@ class ThunderbirdMailChecker(object):
 
         unread = len(self.unread)
         if unread:
-            self.output = {'full_text' : '%d new email' % unread, 
-                'name' : 'newmail-tb',
-                'urgent' : True,
-                'color' : '#ff0000' }
+            self.output = {
+                "full_text": self.settings["format"] % unread, 
+                "name": "newmail-tb",
+                "urgent": True,
+                "color": "#ff0000",
+            }
         else:
             self.output = None