diff --git a/dr_botzo/ircbot/bot.py b/dr_botzo/ircbot/bot.py
index 72c5ce8..f9ccd12 100644
--- a/dr_botzo/ircbot/bot.py
+++ b/dr_botzo/ircbot/bot.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import collections
 import copy
 import logging
 import re
+import socket
 import ssl
 import sys
 
@@ -304,6 +305,14 @@ class IRCBot(irc.client.SimpleIRCClient):
         self._nickname = settings.IRCBOT_NICKNAME
         self._realname = settings.IRCBOT_REALNAME
 
+        # guess at nickmask. hopefully _on_welcome() will set this, but this should be
+        # a pretty good guess if not
+        nick = self._nickname
+        user = self._nickname
+        host = socket.getfqdn()
+        self.nickmask = "{0:s}!~{1:s}@{2:s}".format(nick, user, host)
+        log.debug("guessing at nickmask '{0:s}'".format(self.nickmask))
+
         # handlers
         for i in ['disconnect', 'join', 'kick', 'mode', 'namreply', 'nick', 'part', 'quit', 'welcome']:
             self.connection.add_global_handler(i, getattr(self, '_on_' + i), -20)