diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseChatLink.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseChatLink.cs
index 15a5e12546..31544c9364 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseChatLink.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseChatLink.cs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ using osu.Framework.Allocation;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Colour;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
+using osu.Game.Graphics.Containers;
 using osu.Game.Online.Chat;
 using osu.Game.Overlays;
 using osu.Game.Overlays.Chat;
@@ -51,13 +52,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
             var newLine = new ChatLine(new DummyMessage(text, isAction));
             textContainer.Add(newLine);
 
-            AddAssert($"check msg having {linkAmount} link(s)", () => newLine.Message.Links.Count == linkAmount);
-            // todo: tidy this lambda up
-            AddAssert("check link(s) displaying", () => newLine.ContentFlow.Any()
-                                                        && newLine.ContentFlow
-                                                            .Cast<ChatLink>()
-                                                            .All(sprite => sprite.HandleInput && !sprite.TextColour.Equals((SRGBColour)Color4.White)
-                                                                        || !sprite.HandleInput && sprite.TextColour.Equals((SRGBColour)Color4.White)));
+            AddAssert($"msg #{textContainer.Count} has {linkAmount} link(s)", () => newLine.Message.Links.Count == linkAmount);
+            AddAssert($"msg #{textContainer.Count} shows link(s)", () => newLine.ContentFlow.Any() && isShowingLinks(newLine.ContentFlow));
+
+            bool isShowingLinks(OsuTextFlowContainer c) => c.Cast<ChatLink>().All(sprite => sprite.HandleInput && !sprite.TextColour.Equals((SRGBColour)Color4.White)
+                                                                                        || !sprite.HandleInput && sprite.TextColour.Equals((SRGBColour)Color4.White));
         }
 
         private void testLinksGeneral()
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuLinkFlowContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuLinkFlowContainer.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5f318668a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuLinkFlowContainer.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2017 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using OpenTK.Graphics;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.Colour;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.Sprites;
+using osu.Game.Graphics.Sprites;
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Containers
+{
+    public class OsuLinkFlowContainer : OsuLinkFlowContainer<OsuSpriteLink>
+    {
+        public OsuLinkFlowContainer(Action<SpriteText> defaultCreationParameters = null)
+            : base(defaultCreationParameters)
+        {
+        }
+    }
+
+    public class OsuLinkFlowContainer<T> : OsuTextFlowContainer
+        where T : OsuSpriteLink, new()
+    {
+        public override bool HandleInput => true;
+
+        public OsuLinkFlowContainer(Action<SpriteText> defaultCreationParameters = null) : base(defaultCreationParameters)
+        {
+        }
+
+        protected override SpriteText CreateSpriteText() => new T();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The colour for text (links override this). Will only be used for new text elements.
+        /// </summary>
+        public ColourInfo TextColour = Color4.White;
+
+        public IEnumerable<SpriteText> AddLink(string text, string url, Action<SpriteText> creationParameters = null)
+        {
+            // TODO: Remove this and get word wrapping working
+            text = text.Replace(' ', '_');
+
+            return AddText(text, link =>
+            {
+                creationParameters?.Invoke(link);
+                ((T)link).Url = url;
+            });
+        }
+
+        public new IEnumerable<SpriteText> AddText(string text, Action<SpriteText> creationParameters = null)
+        {
+            return base.AddText(text, sprite =>
+            {
+                ((OsuSpriteLink)sprite).TextColour = TextColour;
+
+                creationParameters?.Invoke(sprite);
+            });
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuLinkTextFlowContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuLinkTextFlowContainer.cs
deleted file mode 100644
index bc23d128f2..0000000000
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuLinkTextFlowContainer.cs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) 2007-2017 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
-// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
-
-using osu.Framework.Graphics.Colour;
-using osu.Framework.Graphics.Sprites;
-using osu.Game.Graphics.Sprites;
-using System;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-
-namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Containers
-{
-    public class OsuLinkTextFlowContainer : OsuLinkTextFlowContainer<OsuLinkSpriteText>
-    {
-        public OsuLinkTextFlowContainer(Action<SpriteText> defaultCreationParameters = null)
-            : base(defaultCreationParameters)
-        {
-        }
-    }
-
-    public class OsuLinkTextFlowContainer<T> : OsuTextFlowContainer
-        where T : OsuLinkSpriteText, new()
-    {
-        public override bool HandleInput => true;
-
-        public OsuLinkTextFlowContainer(Action<SpriteText> defaultCreationParameters = null) : base(defaultCreationParameters)
-        {
-        }
-
-        protected override SpriteText CreateSpriteText() => new T();
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// The colour for normal text (links ignore this). Will only be used for new text elements.
-        /// <para>Default is white.</para>
-        /// </summary>
-        public ColourInfo? TextColour;
-
-        public void AddLink(string text, string url, Action<SpriteText> creationParameters = null)
-        {
-            // TODO: Remove this and get word wrapping working
-            text = text.Replace(' ', '_');
-
-            AddText(text, link =>
-            {
-                creationParameters?.Invoke(link);
-                LoadComponentAsync(link, d => ((T)d).Url = url);
-            });
-        }
-
-        public IEnumerable<SpriteText> AddText(string text, Action<SpriteText> creationParameters = null)
-        {
-            return base.AddText(text, sprite =>
-            {
-                if (TextColour.HasValue)
-                    ((OsuLinkSpriteText)sprite).TextColour = TextColour.Value;
-
-                creationParameters?.Invoke(sprite);
-            });
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/Sprites/OsuLinkSpriteText.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/Sprites/OsuSpriteLink.cs
similarity index 90%
rename from osu.Game/Graphics/Sprites/OsuLinkSpriteText.cs
rename to osu.Game/Graphics/Sprites/OsuSpriteLink.cs
index ccf7c80d07..e42337dff3 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/Sprites/OsuLinkSpriteText.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/Sprites/OsuSpriteLink.cs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ using osu.Game.Graphics.Containers;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Sprites
 {
-    public class OsuLinkSpriteText : OsuSpriteText
+    public class OsuSpriteLink : OsuSpriteText
     {
         protected override IEnumerable<Drawable> FlowingChildren => Children;
 
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Sprites
 
         private readonly Container content;
 
-        public OsuLinkSpriteText()
+        public OsuSpriteLink()
         {
             AddInternal(content = new OsuHoverContainer
             {
diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/ChatLink.cs b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/ChatLink.cs
index ccf146286b..aa5a0e100b 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/ChatLink.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/ChatLink.cs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
 {
-    public class ChatLink : OsuLinkSpriteText, IHasTooltip
+    public class ChatLink : OsuSpriteLink, IHasTooltip
     {
         private APIAccess api;
         private BeatmapSetOverlay beatmapSetOverlay;
@@ -20,9 +20,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
 
         public override bool HandleInput => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(Url);
 
+        // 'protocol' -> 'https', 'http', 'osu', 'osump' etc.
+        // 'content' -> everything after '<protocol>://'
+        private Match getUrlMatch() => Regex.Match(Url, @"^(?<protocol>osu(?:mp)?|https?):\/\/(?<content>.*)");
+
         protected override void OnLinkClicked()
         {
-            var urlMatch = Regex.Matches(Url, @"^(?<protocol>osu(?:mp)?|https?):\/\/(?<content>.*)")[0];
+            var urlMatch = getUrlMatch();
             if (urlMatch.Success)
             {
                 var args = urlMatch.Groups["content"].Value.Split('/');
@@ -41,11 +45,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
                             case "chan":
                                 var foundChannel = chat.AvailableChannels.Find(channel => channel.Name == args[1]);
 
-                                if (foundChannel == null)
-                                    throw new ArgumentException($"Unknown channel name ({args[1]}).");
-                                else
-                                    chat.OpenChannel(foundChannel);
-
+                                // links should be filtered out by now if a channel doesn't exist
+                                chat.OpenChannel(foundChannel ?? throw new ArgumentException($"Unknown channel name ({args[1]})."));
                                 break;
                             case "edit":
                                 chat.Game?.LoadEditorTimestamp();
@@ -130,9 +131,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
                 if (Url == Text)
                     return null;
 
-                if (Url.StartsWith("osu://"))
+                var urlMatch = getUrlMatch();
+                if (urlMatch.Success && urlMatch.Groups["protocol"].Value == "osu")
                 {
-                    var args = Url.Substring(6).Split('/');
+                    var args = urlMatch.Groups["content"].Value.Split('/');
 
                     if (args.Length < 2)
                         return Url;
@@ -140,7 +142,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
                     if (args[0] == "chan")
                         return "Switch to channel " + args[1];
                     if (args[0] == "edit")
-                        return "Go to " + args[1].Remove(9).TrimEnd();
+                        return "Go to " + args[1];
                 }
 
                 return Url;
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChatLine.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChatLine.cs
index 26759825ee..add0bb1fd8 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChatLine.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChatLine.cs
@@ -83,7 +83,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
 
         private Message message;
         private OsuSpriteText username;
-        private OsuLinkTextFlowContainer<ChatLink> contentFlow;
+        private OsuLinkFlowContainer<ChatLink> contentFlow;
+
+        // this is only used for testing
+        public OsuTextFlowContainer ContentFlow => contentFlow;
 
         public Message Message
         {
@@ -101,9 +104,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
             }
         }
 
-        // this is only used for testing
-        public OsuTextFlowContainer ContentFlow => contentFlow;
-
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader(true)]
         private void load(OsuColour colours, ChatOverlay chat)
         {
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
                     Padding = new MarginPadding { Left = message_padding + padding },
                     Children = new Drawable[]
                     {
-                        contentFlow = new OsuLinkTextFlowContainer<ChatLink>(t =>
+                        contentFlow = new OsuLinkFlowContainer<ChatLink>(t =>
                         {
                             if (Message.IsAction)
                                 t.Font = "Exo2.0-MediumItalic";
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Profile/ProfileHeader.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Profile/ProfileHeader.cs
index 2a682aa654..f1efbbc54a 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Profile/ProfileHeader.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Profile/ProfileHeader.cs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Profile
     public class ProfileHeader : Container
     {
         private readonly OsuTextFlowContainer infoTextLeft;
-        private readonly OsuLinkTextFlowContainer infoTextRight;
+        private readonly OsuLinkFlowContainer infoTextRight;
         private readonly FillFlowContainer<SpriteText> scoreText, scoreNumberText;
         private readonly RankGraph rankGraph;
 
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Profile
                     ParagraphSpacing = 0.8f,
                     LineSpacing = 0.2f
                 },
-                infoTextRight = new OsuLinkTextFlowContainer(t =>
+                infoTextRight = new OsuLinkFlowContainer(t =>
                 {
                     t.TextSize = 14;
                     t.Font = @"Exo2.0-RegularItalic";
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Profile
             }
         }
 
-        private class ProfileLink : OsuLinkSpriteText, IHasTooltip
+        private class ProfileLink : OsuSpriteLink, IHasTooltip
         {
             public string TooltipText => "View Profile in Browser";
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/osu.Game.csproj b/osu.Game/osu.Game.csproj
index bc7df963da..d32c458ccf 100644
--- a/osu.Game/osu.Game.csproj
+++ b/osu.Game/osu.Game.csproj
@@ -270,8 +270,8 @@
     <Compile Include="Database\IHasPrimaryKey.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Overlays\Profile\SupporterIcon.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Overlays\Settings\DangerousSettingsButton.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Graphics\Containers\OsuLinkTextFlowContainer.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Graphics\Sprites\OsuLinkSpriteText.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Graphics\Containers\OsuLinkFlowContainer.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Graphics\Sprites\OsuSpriteLink.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Graphics\UserInterface\HoverClickSounds.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Graphics\UserInterface\HoverSounds.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Graphics\UserInterface\OsuButton.cs" />