diff --git a/dr_botzo/ircbot/migrations/0012_ircchannel_markov_learn_from_channel.py b/dr_botzo/ircbot/migrations/0012_ircchannel_markov_learn_from_channel.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..baa9a7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dr_botzo/ircbot/migrations/0012_ircchannel_markov_learn_from_channel.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import models, migrations
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('ircbot', '0011_auto_20150620_0951'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='ircchannel',
+            name='markov_learn_from_channel',
+            field=models.BooleanField(default=True),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/dr_botzo/ircbot/models.py b/dr_botzo/ircbot/models.py
index 798cd0a..318daef 100644
--- a/dr_botzo/ircbot/models.py
+++ b/dr_botzo/ircbot/models.py
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ class IrcChannel(models.Model):
     topic_time = models.DateTimeField(default=timezone.now)
     topic_by = models.CharField(max_length=200, default='', blank=True)
 
+    markov_learn_from_channel = models.BooleanField(default=True)
+
     class Meta:
         permissions = (
             ('manage_current_channels', "Can join/part channels via IRC"),
diff --git a/dr_botzo/markov/ircplugin.py b/dr_botzo/markov/ircplugin.py
index 4c29276..990c179 100644
--- a/dr_botzo/markov/ircplugin.py
+++ b/dr_botzo/markov/ircplugin.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import re
 import irc.client
 
 from ircbot.lib import Plugin, reply_destination_for_event
+from ircbot.models import IrcChannel
 import markov.lib as markovlib
 
 log = logging.getLogger('markov.ircplugin')
@@ -70,12 +71,20 @@ class Markov(Plugin):
         nick = irc.client.NickMask(event.source).nick
         target = reply_destination_for_event(event)
 
-        # learn the line
-        recursing = getattr(event, '_recursing', False)
-        if not recursing:
-            log.debug(u"learning %s", trimmed_what)
-            context = markovlib.get_or_create_target_context(target)
-            markovlib.learn_line(trimmed_what, context)
+        # check to see whether or not we should learn from this channel
+        channel = None
+        if irc.client.is_channel(target):
+            channel, c = IrcChannel.objects.get_or_create(name=target)
+
+        if channel and not channel.markov_learn_from_channel:
+            log.debug("not learning from %s as i've been told to ignore it", channel)
+        else:
+            # learn the line
+            recursing = getattr(event, '_recursing', False)
+            if not recursing:
+                log.debug(u"learning %s", trimmed_what)
+                context = markovlib.get_or_create_target_context(target)
+                markovlib.learn_line(trimmed_what, context)
 
         log.debug(u"searching '%s' for '%s'", what, my_nick)
         if re.search(my_nick, what, re.IGNORECASE) is not None: