diff --git a/coder.py b/coder.py
index ced405abf..671342e11 100755
--- a/coder.py
+++ b/coder.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from dotenv import load_dotenv
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
 from pathlib import Path
-from utils import replace_most_similar_chunk
+import utils
 
 import os
 import git
@@ -418,11 +418,14 @@ class Coder:
 
         content = fname.read_text()
 
-        if not before_text and not content:
-            # first populating an empty file
-            new_content = after_text
+        if not before_text:
+            if content:
+                new_content = content + after_text
+            else:
+                # first populating an empty file
+                new_content = after_text
         else:
-            new_content = replace_most_similar_chunk(content, before_text, after_text)
+            new_content = utils.replace_most_similar_chunk(content, before_text, after_text)
             if not new_content:
                 self.console.print(f"[red]Failed to apply edit to {fname}")
                 return
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 7a1831c7c..5e539f5aa 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import math
 
 from difflib import SequenceMatcher
+from pathlib import Path
 
 # from dump import dump
 
@@ -41,3 +42,22 @@ def replace_most_similar_chunk(whole, part, replace):
     )
     modified_whole = "\n".join(modified_whole)
     return modified_whole
+
+
+def strip_quoted_wrapping(res, fname=None):
+    if not res:
+        return res
+
+    res = res.splitlines()
+
+    if fname and res[0].strip().endswith(Path(fname).name):
+        res = res[1:]
+
+    if res[0].startswith("```") and res[-1].startswith("```"):
+        res = res[1:-1]
+
+    res = "\n".join(res)
+    if res and res[-1] != "\n":
+        res += "\n"
+
+    return res