diff --git a/ircbot/lib.py b/ircbot/lib.py
index 76836da..412f82f 100644
--- a/ircbot/lib.py
+++ b/ircbot/lib.py
@@ -79,3 +79,14 @@ def reply_destination_for_event(event):
         return event.target
     else:
         return irc.client.NickMask(event.source).nick
+
+
+def most_specific_message(event):
+    """Provides the "most specific" message for a pubmsg/privmsg.
+
+    Specificity is defined as the raw message, or the message after a "bot: blah" address.
+    """
+    if event.addressed:
+        return event.addressed_msg
+    else:
+        return event.original_msg