diff --git a/protocols/ircs2s_common.py b/protocols/ircs2s_common.py
index 2e46fe9..8424bdb 100644
--- a/protocols/ircs2s_common.py
+++ b/protocols/ircs2s_common.py
@@ -562,11 +562,14 @@ class IRCS2SProtocol(IRCCommonProtocol):
                 killer = source
 
             # Get the reason, which is enclosed in brackets.
-            reason = ' '.join(args[1].split(" ")[1:])
-
-            killmsg = "Killed (%s %s)" % (killer, reason)
+            killmsg = ' '.join(args[1].split(" ")[1:])[1:-1]
+            if not killmsg:
+                log.warning('(%s) Failed to extract kill reason: %r', irc.name, args)
+                killmsg = '<No reason given>'
         else:
             # We already have a preformatted kill, so just pass it on as is.
+            # XXX: this does create a convoluted kill string if we want to forward kills
+            # over relay.
             # InspIRCd:
             # <- :1MLAAAAA1 KILL 0ALAAAAAC :Killed (GL (test))
             # ngIRCd: