diff --git a/handler/irc.py b/handler/irc.py
index 8cd3dd6..57fb208 100644
--- a/handler/irc.py
+++ b/handler/irc.py
@@ -160,8 +160,10 @@ class IRCBot(irc.IRCClient):
                     self.parse(user, host, channel, msg[1:])
         elif host in self.admins and channel == nick:
             if len(msg) > 0:
-                if msg.split()[0] != "!":
-                    self.parse(user, host, channel, msg)
+                spl = msg.split()
+                if len(spl) > 0:
+                    if spl[0] != "!":
+                        self.parse(user, host, channel, msg)
 
     def noticed(self, user, channel, msg):
         """