diff --git a/modules/Karma.py b/modules/Karma.py
index 03f3bb5..092aa48 100644
--- a/modules/Karma.py
+++ b/modules/Karma.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class Karma(Module):
 
         Module.__init__(self, irc, config, server)
 
-        pattern = "(?:\((.+)\)|(\S+))"
+        pattern = "(?:\((.+?)\)|(\S+))"
         karmapattern = pattern + '(\+\+|--|\+-|-\+)' + '(\s+|$)'
         querypattern = '^!rank\s+(.*)'
         reportpattern = '^!karma\s+report\s+(highest|lowest|positive|negative|top)'
@@ -89,9 +89,11 @@ class Karma(Module):
     def do(self, connection, event, nick, userhost, what, admin_unlocked):
         """look for karma strings at the start of messages"""
 
+        # don't return anything, do this attempt regardless
         if (self.karmare.search(what)):
-            return self.reply(connection, event, self.handle_karma_change(connection, nick, userhost, what))
-        elif (self.queryre.search(what)):
+            self.handle_karma_change(connection, nick, userhost, what)
+
+        if (self.queryre.search(what)):
             return self.reply(connection, event, self.handle_karma_query(connection, nick, userhost, what))
         elif (self.statre.search(what)):
             return self.reply(connection, event, self.handle_stat_query(connection, nick, userhost, what))
@@ -102,19 +104,23 @@ class Karma(Module):
         """
         handle the karma change and storage.
         """
-        match = self.karmare.search(what)
-        key = match.group(1) if match.group(1) else match.group(2)
-        value = match.group(3)
-        if (value == '++'):
-            return self.karma_modify(key, 1, nick, userhost)
-        elif (value == '--'):
-            return self.karma_modify(key, -1, nick, userhost)
-        elif (value == '+-'):
-            self.karma_modify(key, 1, nick, userhost)
-            return self.karma_modify(key, -1, nick, userhost)
-        elif (value == '-+'):
-            self.karma_modify(key, -1, nick, userhost)
-            return self.karma_modify(key, 1, nick, userhost)
+
+        if self.karmare.search(what):
+            matches = self.karmare.findall(what)
+            for match in matches:
+                key = match[0] if match[0] else match[1]
+                value = match[2]
+
+                if (value == '++'):
+                    self.karma_modify(key, 1, nick, userhost)
+                elif (value == '--'):
+                    self.karma_modify(key, -1, nick, userhost)
+                elif (value == '+-'):
+                    self.karma_modify(key, 1, nick, userhost)
+                    self.karma_modify(key, -1, nick, userhost)
+                elif (value == '-+'):
+                    self.karma_modify(key, -1, nick, userhost)
+                    self.karma_modify(key, 1, nick, userhost)
 
     def karma_modify(self, key, value, nick, userhost):
         """