diff --git a/dice/ircplugin.py b/dice/ircplugin.py
index 0f9fa2d..51b57bf 100644
--- a/dice/ircplugin.py
+++ b/dice/ircplugin.py
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ class Dice(Plugin):
         choices_list = choices.split(' ')
         choice = random.choice(choices_list)
 
-        logger.debug(event._recursing)
-        if event._recursing:
+        logger.debug(event.recursing)
+        if event.recursing:
             reply = "{0:s}".format(choice)
         else:
             reply = "{0:s}: {1:s}".format(nick, choice)
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ class Dice(Plugin):
         nick = NickMask(event.source).nick
         dicestr = match.group(1)
 
-        logger.debug(event._recursing)
-        if event._recursing:
+        logger.debug(event.recursing)
+        if event.recursing:
             reply = "{0:s}".format(self.roller.do_roll(dicestr))
         else:
             reply = "{0:s}: {1:s}".format(nick, self.roller.do_roll(dicestr))
diff --git a/ircbot/bot.py b/ircbot/bot.py
index 4c3f225..2c63602 100644
--- a/ircbot/bot.py
+++ b/ircbot/bot.py
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ class DrReactor(irc.client.Reactor):
                       event.target, event.arguments)
 
             # set up some default stuff
-            event._recursing = False
+            event.recursing = False
             event.addressed = False
             event.original_msg = None
             event.addressed_msg = None
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ class DrReactor(irc.client.Reactor):
                 # copy the event and see if IT has recursion to do
                 newevent = copy.deepcopy(event)
                 newevent.arguments[0] = subcmd
-                newevent._recursing = True
+                newevent.recursing = True
 
                 log.debug("new event copied")
 
@@ -899,7 +899,7 @@ class IRCBot(irc.client.SimpleIRCClient):
         if event:
             log.debug("in reply for e[%s] r[%s]", event, replystr)
             replypath = ircbotlib.reply_destination_for_event(event)
-            recursing = getattr(event, '_recursing', False)
+            recursing = getattr(event, 'recursing', False)
             log.debug("determined recursing to be %s", recursing)
         elif explicit_target:
             log.debug("in reply for e[NO EVENT] r[%s]", replystr)
diff --git a/markov/ircplugin.py b/markov/ircplugin.py
index 732767f..19cdd31 100644
--- a/markov/ircplugin.py
+++ b/markov/ircplugin.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class Markov(Plugin):
             log.debug("not learning from %s as i've been told to ignore it", channel)
         else:
             # learn the line
-            recursing = getattr(event, '_recursing', False)
+            recursing = getattr(event, 'recursing', False)
             if not recursing:
                 log.debug("learning %s", trimmed_what)
                 context = markovlib.get_or_create_target_context(target)