diff --git a/manifest.json b/manifest.json
index b3f7ce4..85769dd 100644
--- a/manifest.json
+++ b/manifest.json
@@ -6,6 +6,6 @@
     "js": "index.js",
     "css": "style.css",
     "author": "Marinara",
-    "version": "3.3.2",
+    "version": "3.4.1",
     "homePage": "https://github.com/SpicyMarinara/rpg-companion-sillytavern"
 }
diff --git a/src/systems/generation/promptBuilder.js b/src/systems/generation/promptBuilder.js
index c3eb554..17736ce 100644
--- a/src/systems/generation/promptBuilder.js
+++ b/src/systems/generation/promptBuilder.js
@@ -1055,16 +1055,34 @@ export function generateRPGPromptText() {
             }
         }
 
-        if (extensionSettings.showCharacterThoughts && committedTrackerData.characterThoughts) {
+        // Include Present Characters data if it exists, regardless of current showCharacterThoughts setting
+        // This ensures existing character data is preserved in context even if the setting is toggled off
+        if (committedTrackerData.characterThoughts) {
             try {
-                // Try to parse as JSON - apply locks before adding to previous
-                const lockedData = applyLocks(committedTrackerData.characterThoughts, 'characters');
-                const parsed = JSON.parse(lockedData);
-                unifiedPrevious.characters = parsed;
-            } catch {
+                let parsed;
+                // Check if it's already a JavaScript object/array (not a JSON string)
+                if (typeof committedTrackerData.characterThoughts === 'object') {
+                    // Already parsed - apply locks and use directly
+                    parsed = applyLocks(committedTrackerData.characterThoughts, 'characters');
+                } else {
+                    // It's a JSON string - apply locks and parse
+                    const lockedData = applyLocks(committedTrackerData.characterThoughts, 'characters');
+                    parsed = JSON.parse(lockedData);
+                }
+
+                // Only include if there's actual character data (non-empty array or object with content)
+                if (parsed && ((Array.isArray(parsed) && parsed.length > 0) ||
+                               (parsed.characters && Array.isArray(parsed.characters) && parsed.characters.length > 0))) {
+                    unifiedPrevious.characters = parsed;
+                }
+            } catch (e) {
+                // console.warn('[RPG Companion] Failed to process characters for previous section:', e);
                 // Old text format - show it separately for backward compat
                 if (!unifiedPrevious.userStats && !unifiedPrevious.infoBox) {
-                    promptText += `${committedTrackerData.characterThoughts}\n`;
+                    const charText = typeof committedTrackerData.characterThoughts === 'string'
+                        ? committedTrackerData.characterThoughts
+                        : JSON.stringify(committedTrackerData.characterThoughts, null, 2);
+                    promptText += `${charText}\n`;
                 }
             }
         }