diff --git a/coremods/service_support.py b/coremods/service_support.py
index 5ef98f3..b239ed5 100644
--- a/coremods/service_support.py
+++ b/coremods/service_support.py
@@ -26,10 +26,6 @@ def spawn_service(irc, source, command, args):
     nick = irc.serverdata.get("%s_nick" % name) or conf.conf.get(name, {}).get('nick') or sbot.nick or name
     ident = irc.serverdata.get("%s_ident" % name) or conf.conf.get(name, {}).get('ident') or sbot.ident or name
 
-    # Specify modes to join the services bot with.
-    joinmodes = irc.serverdata.get("%s_joinmodes" % name) or conf.conf.get(name, {}).get('joinmodes') or ''
-    joinmodes = ''.join([m for m in joinmodes if m in irc.prefixmodes])
-
     if name != 'pylink' and irc.protoname == 'clientbot':
         # Prefix service bots spawned on Clientbot to prevent possible nick collisions.
         nick = 'PyLinkService@' + nick
@@ -66,18 +62,7 @@ def spawn_service(irc, source, command, args):
     # TODO: channels should be tracked in a central database, not hardcoded
     # in conf.
     channels = set(irc.serverdata.get('channels', [])) | sbot.extra_channels.get(irc.name, set())
-
-    for chan in channels:
-        if utils.isChannel(chan):
-            log.debug('(%s) Joining services %s to channel %s with modes %r', irc.name, name, chan, joinmodes)
-            if joinmodes:  # Modes on join were specified; use SJOIN to burst our service
-                irc.proto.sjoin(irc.sid, chan, [(joinmodes, u)])
-            else:
-                irc.proto.join(u, chan)
-
-            irc.callHooks([irc.sid, 'PYLINK_SERVICE_JOIN', {'channel': chan, 'users': [u]}])
-        else:
-            log.warning('(%s) Ignoring invalid autojoin channel %r.', irc.name, chan)
+    sbot.join(irc, channels)
 
 utils.add_hook(spawn_service, 'PYLINK_NEW_SERVICE')
 
diff --git a/plugins/relay.py b/plugins/relay.py
index 5483730..5e37bee 100644
--- a/plugins/relay.py
+++ b/plugins/relay.py
@@ -511,9 +511,7 @@ def initializeChannel(irc, channel):
         log.debug('(%s) relay.initializeChannel: joining our (%s) users: %s', irc.name, remotenet, irc.channels[channel].users)
         relayJoins(irc, channel, irc.channels[channel].users, irc.channels[channel].ts)
 
-        world.services['pylink'].extra_channels[irc.name].add(channel)
-        if irc.pseudoclient and irc.pseudoclient.uid not in irc.channels[channel].users:
-            irc.proto.join(irc.pseudoclient.uid, channel)
+        world.services['pylink'].join(irc, channel)
 
 def removeChannel(irc, channel):
     """Destroys a relay channel by parting all of its users."""
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 55b23d2..8e106cc 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -235,6 +235,44 @@ class ServiceBot():
         else:
             raise NotImplementedError("Network specific plugins not supported yet.")
 
+    def join(self, irc, channels, autojoin=True):
+        """
+        Joins the given service bot to the given channel(s).
+        """
+        try:
+            u = self.uids[irc.name]
+        except KeyError:
+            log.debug('(%s/%s) Skipping join(), UID not initialized yet', irc.name, self.name)
+            return
+
+        # Ensure type safety: pluralize strings if only one channel was given, then convert to set.
+        if type(channels) == str:
+            channels = [channels]
+        channels = set(channels)
+
+        # Specify modes to join the services bot with.
+        joinmodes = irc.serverdata.get("%s_joinmodes" % self.name) or conf.conf.get(self.name, {}).get('joinmodes') or ''
+        joinmodes = ''.join([m for m in joinmodes if m in irc.prefixmodes])
+
+        if autojoin:
+            log.debug('(%s/%s) Adding channels %s to autojoin', irc.name, self.name, channels)
+            self.extra_channels[irc.name] |= channels
+
+        for chan in channels:
+            if isChannel(chan):
+                if u in irc.channels[chan].users:
+                    log.debug('(%s) Skipping join of services %s to channel %s - it is already present', irc.name, self.name, chan)
+                    continue
+                log.debug('(%s) Joining services %s to channel %s with modes %r', irc.name, self.name, chan, joinmodes)
+                if joinmodes:  # Modes on join were specified; use SJOIN to burst our service
+                    irc.proto.sjoin(irc.sid, chan, [(joinmodes, u)])
+                else:
+                    irc.proto.join(u, chan)
+
+                irc.callHooks([irc.sid, 'PYLINK_SERVICE_JOIN', {'channel': chan, 'users': [u]}])
+            else:
+                log.warning('(%s) Ignoring invalid autojoin channel %r.', irc.name, chan)
+
     def reply(self, irc, text, notice=False, private=False):
         """Replies to a message as the service in question."""
         servuid = self.uids.get(irc.name)