diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 21333df..12f4856 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     "url": "git://github.com/groundwater/node-stackup.git"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "async-listener": "~0.4.7"
+    "async-listener": "~0.4.7",
+    "lodash": "^3.10.1"
   }
 }
diff --git a/trace.js b/trace.js
index f2082af..7c85aff 100644
--- a/trace.js
+++ b/trace.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 var util = require('util');
+var _ = require("lodash");
 
 function Trace(module) {
   this.module = module;
@@ -19,7 +20,9 @@ Trace.prototype.toString = function toString(stack) {
     current = current.parent;
   }
 
-  return out.join('\n');
+  return _.filter(out, function(line) {
+    return line.trim().length > 0;
+  }).join('\n');
 }
 
 Trace.prototype.__format = function __format(stack) {
@@ -27,7 +30,6 @@ Trace.prototype.__format = function __format(stack) {
 
   // get rid of [object Object] line
   split.shift();
-  split.unshift('    ---- async ----');
 
   return this.__filter(split).join('\n');
 }