diff --git a/irc/channel.go b/irc/channel.go
index b9af37fe..3b47b49d 100644
--- a/irc/channel.go
+++ b/irc/channel.go
@@ -541,25 +541,23 @@ func (channel *Channel) ClientPrefixes(client *Client, isMultiPrefix bool) strin
 	}
 }
 
-func (channel *Channel) ClientModeStrings(client *Client) []string {
+func (channel *Channel) ClientModeStrings(client *Client) (result []string) {
 	channel.stateMutex.RLock()
 	defer channel.stateMutex.RUnlock()
 	modes, present := channel.members[client]
-	if !present {
-		return []string{}
-	} else {
-		return modes.Strings()
+	if present {
+		for _, mode := range modes.AllModes() {
+			result = append(result, mode.String())
+		}
 	}
+	return
 }
 
-func (channel *Channel) ClientJoinTime(client *Client) *time.Time {
+func (channel *Channel) ClientJoinTime(client *Client) time.Time {
 	channel.stateMutex.RLock()
 	defer channel.stateMutex.RUnlock()
-	time, present := channel.memberJoinTimes[client]
-	if present {
-		return &time
-	}
-	return nil
+	time := channel.memberJoinTimes[client]
+	return time
 }
 
 func (channel *Channel) ClientHasPrivsOver(client *Client, target *Client) bool {
@@ -738,7 +736,7 @@ func (channel *Channel) Join(client *Client, key string, isSajoin bool, rb *Resp
 			defer channel.stateMutex.Unlock()
 
 			channel.members.Add(client)
-			channel.memberJoinTimes[client] = time.Now()
+			channel.memberJoinTimes[client] = time.Now().UTC()
 			firstJoin := len(channel.members) == 1
 			newChannel := firstJoin && channel.registeredFounder == ""
 			if newChannel {
diff --git a/irc/handlers.go b/irc/handlers.go
index d6deaa35..3daeb358 100644
--- a/irc/handlers.go
+++ b/irc/handlers.go
@@ -940,7 +940,7 @@ func extjwtHandler(server *Server, client *Client, msg ircmsg.IrcMessage, rb *Re
 		claims["cmodes"] = []string{}
 		if channel.hasClient(client) {
 			joinTime := channel.ClientJoinTime(client)
-			if joinTime == nil {
+			if joinTime.IsZero() {
 				// shouldn't happen, only in races
 				rb.Add(nil, server.name, "FAIL", "EXTJWT", "UNKNOWN_ERROR", client.t("Channel join time is inconsistent, JWT not generated"))
 				return false
diff --git a/irc/modes/modes.go b/irc/modes/modes.go
index 89216cf8..ae2d9224 100644
--- a/irc/modes/modes.go
+++ b/irc/modes/modes.go
@@ -388,18 +388,6 @@ func (set *ModeSet) String() (result string) {
 	return buf.String()
 }
 
-// Strings returns the modes in this set.
-func (set *ModeSet) Strings() (result []string) {
-	if set == nil {
-		return
-	}
-
-	for _, mode := range set.AllModes() {
-		result = append(result, mode.String())
-	}
-	return
-}
-
 // Prefixes returns a list of prefixes for the given set of channel modes.
 func (set *ModeSet) Prefixes(isMultiPrefix bool) (prefixes string) {
 	if set == nil {