diff --git a/tipbot/modules/irc.py b/tipbot/modules/irc.py
index 15258aa..2b2d50c 100644
--- a/tipbot/modules/irc.py
+++ b/tipbot/modules/irc.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def GetNick(data):                            # Return Nickname
   nick = nick.replace(':', ' ')
   nick = nick.replace(' ', '')
   nick = nick.strip(' \t\n\r')
-  return nick
+  return nick.lower()
 
 class IRCNetwork(Network):
   def __init__(self,name):
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ class IRCNetwork(Network):
             log_log("New list of users in %s: %s" % (chan, str(self.userstable[chan].keys())))
 
       elif action == 'KICK':
-        nick = parts[3]
+        nick = parts[3].lower()
         log_info('%s was kicked' % nick)
         removed_list = ""
         for chan in self.userstable:
diff --git a/tipbot/utils.py b/tipbot/utils.py
index d93bc72..a6a4667 100644
--- a/tipbot/utils.py
+++ b/tipbot/utils.py
@@ -236,13 +236,14 @@ def RetrieveBalance(link):
 
 def IdentityFromString(link,s):
   if s.find(':') == -1:
-    network = link.network.name
+    network = link.network
     nick=s
   else:
     parts=s.split(':')
-    network=parts[0]
+    network_name=parts[0]
+    network=GetNetworkByName(network_name)
     nick=parts[1]
-  return network+':'+nick
+  return network.name+':'+network.canonicalize(nick)
 
 def NickFromIdentity(identity):
   return identity.split(':')[1]