diff --git a/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp b/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
index e4714b744..ad8da9aef 100644
--- a/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
+++ b/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ void CConfigManager::setDefaultVars() {
     configValues["animations:fadein"].intValue = 1;
 
     configValues["input:kb_layout"].strValue = "en";
-    configValues["input:kb_variant"].strValue = "";
-    configValues["input:kb_options"].strValue = "";
-    configValues["input:kb_rules"].strValue = "";
-    configValues["input:kb_model"].strValue = "";
+    configValues["input:kb_variant"].strValue = STRVAL_EMPTY;
+    configValues["input:kb_options"].strValue = STRVAL_EMPTY;
+    configValues["input:kb_rules"].strValue = STRVAL_EMPTY;
+    configValues["input:kb_model"].strValue = STRVAL_EMPTY;
     configValues["input:repeat_rate"].intValue = 25;
     configValues["input:repeat_delay"].intValue = 600;
     configValues["input:touchpad:disable_while_typing"].intValue = 1;
@@ -579,7 +579,12 @@ float CConfigManager::getFloat(std::string v) {
 }
 
 std::string CConfigManager::getString(std::string v) {
-    return getConfigValueSafe(v).strValue;
+    const auto VAL = getConfigValueSafe(v).strValue;
+
+    if (VAL == STRVAL_EMPTY)
+        return "";
+
+    return VAL;
 }
 
 void CConfigManager::setInt(std::string v, int val) {
diff --git a/src/config/ConfigManager.hpp b/src/config/ConfigManager.hpp
index b81360167..3c2cd38e2 100644
--- a/src/config/ConfigManager.hpp
+++ b/src/config/ConfigManager.hpp
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 
 #include "defaultConfig.hpp"
 
+#define STRVAL_EMPTY "[[EMPTY]]"
+
 struct SConfigValue {
     int64_t intValue = -1;
     float floatValue = -1;
diff --git a/src/render/OpenGL.cpp b/src/render/OpenGL.cpp
index 6109d2c61..6063b4846 100644
--- a/src/render/OpenGL.cpp
+++ b/src/render/OpenGL.cpp
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ CFramebuffer* CHyprOpenGLImpl::blurMainFramebufferWithDamage(float a, wlr_box* p
     const auto BLURSIZE = g_pConfigManager->getInt("decoration:blur_size");
     const auto BLURPASSES = g_pConfigManager->getInt("decoration:blur_passes");
 
-    const auto BLURRADIUS = BLURSIZE * BLURPASSES;
+    const auto BLURRADIUS = BLURSIZE * BLURPASSES * BLURPASSES;
 
     // now, prep the damage, get the extended damage region
     pixman_region32_t damage;