diff --git a/markov/ircplugin.py b/markov/ircplugin.py
index 63015e0..c1ecc0f 100644
--- a/markov/ircplugin.py
+++ b/markov/ircplugin.py
@@ -60,15 +60,10 @@ class Markov(Plugin):
     def handle_chatter(self, connection, event):
         """Learn from IRC chatter."""
         what = event.arguments[0]
-        if connection.server_config.additional_addressed_nicks:
-            all_nicks = '|'.join(connection.server_config.additional_addressed_nicks.split('\n') +
-                                 [connection.get_nickname()])
-        else:
-            all_nicks = connection.get_nickname()
-        trimmed_what = re.sub(r'^(({nicks})[:,]|@({nicks}))\s+'.format(nicks=all_nicks), '', what)
         nick = irc.client.NickMask(event.source).nick
         target = reply_destination_for_event(event)
 
+        log.debug("what: '%s', nick: '%s', target: '%s'", what, nick, target)
         # check to see whether or not we should learn from this channel
         channel = None
         if irc.client.is_channel(target):
@@ -78,6 +73,12 @@ class Markov(Plugin):
             log.debug("not learning from %s as i've been told to ignore it", channel)
         else:
             # learn the line
+            if connection.server_config.additional_addressed_nicks:
+                all_nicks = '|'.join(connection.server_config.additional_addressed_nicks.split('\n') +
+                                     [connection.get_nickname()])
+            else:
+                all_nicks = connection.get_nickname()
+            trimmed_what = re.sub(r'^(({nicks})[:,]|@({nicks}))\s+'.format(nicks=all_nicks), '', what)
             recursing = getattr(event, 'recursing', False)
             if not recursing:
                 log.debug("learning %s", trimmed_what)