diff --git a/tipbot/modules/irc.py b/tipbot/modules/irc.py
index e55ec92..14a07fd 100644
--- a/tipbot/modules/irc.py
+++ b/tipbot/modules/irc.py
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ class IRCNetwork(Network):
       elif action == 'PRIVMSG':
         self.update_last_active_time(chan,GetNick(who))
         # resplit to avoid splitting text that contains ':'
-        text = data.split(':',2)[2]
+        text = data.split(' :',1)[1]
         exidx = text.find('!')
         if exidx != -1 and len(text)>exidx+1 and text[exidx+1] in string.ascii_letters and self.is_acceptable_command_prefix(text[:exidx]):
             cmd = text.split('!')[1]