diff --git a/hooks/ponytail-config.js b/hooks/ponytail-config.js
index 86677b1..88aef88 100644
--- a/hooks/ponytail-config.js
+++ b/hooks/ponytail-config.js
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ function getDefaultMode() {
   // 2. Config file
   try {
     const configPath = getConfigPath();
-    const config = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf8'));
+    const raw = fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf8').replace(/^/, '');
+    const config = JSON.parse(raw);
     if (config.defaultMode && VALID_MODES.includes(config.defaultMode.toLowerCase())) {
       return config.defaultMode.toLowerCase();
     }
diff --git a/scripts/uninstall.js b/scripts/uninstall.js
index e4dce52..e804674 100644
--- a/scripts/uninstall.js
+++ b/scripts/uninstall.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ try {
   // "ponytail-statusline" gets removed wholesale. Parse out only ponytail's part
   // if combined statuslines become common.
   if (typeof cmd === 'string' && cmd.includes('ponytail-statusline')) {
-    delete settings.statusLine;
+    delete settings.statusLine.command;
     fs.writeFileSync(settingsPath, JSON.stringify(settings, null, 2), 'utf8');
     console.log(`Removed ponytail statusLine entry from ${settingsPath}`);
   }