diff --git a/modules/Seen.py b/modules/Seen.py
index a0f07f2..81181ec 100644
--- a/modules/Seen.py
+++ b/modules/Seen.py
@@ -81,11 +81,13 @@ class Seen(Module):
 
         # whatever it is, store it
         try:
-            db = self.get_db()
-            cur = db.cursor()
-            statement = 'REPLACE INTO seen_nicks (nick, location, host, what) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)'
-            cur.execute(statement, (nick, where, userhost, what.decode('utf-8', 'replace')))
-            db.commit()
+            # if there's no where, this is probably a sub-command. don't learn it
+            if where:
+                db = self.get_db()
+                cur = db.cursor()
+                statement = 'REPLACE INTO seen_nicks (nick, location, host, what) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)'
+                cur.execute(statement, (nick, where, userhost, what.decode('utf-8', 'replace')))
+                db.commit()
         except sqlite3.Error as e:
             db.rollback()
             print("sqlite error: " + str(e))