diff --git a/classes.py b/classes.py
index 24876a5..dafe795 100644
--- a/classes.py
+++ b/classes.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import ssl
 import hashlib
 from copy import deepcopy
 import inspect
+import re
 
 try:
     import ircmatch
@@ -1301,6 +1302,35 @@ class Protocol():
         return {'target': split_server, 'users': affected_users, 'name': sname,
                 'uplink': uplink}
 
+    def parseCapabilities(self, args):
+        """
+        Parses a string of capabilities in the 005 / RPL_ISUPPORT format.
+        """
+
+        if type(args) == str:
+            args = args.split(' ')
+
+        caps = {}
+        for cap in args:
+            try:
+                # Try to split it as a KEY=VALUE pair.
+                key, value = cap.split('=', 1)
+            except ValueError:
+                key = cap
+                value = ''
+            caps[key] = value
+
+        return caps
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def parsePrefixes(args):
+        """
+        Separates prefixes field like "(qaohv)~&@%+" into a dict mapping mode characters to mode
+        prefixes.
+        """
+        prefixsearch = re.search(r'\(([A-Za-z]+)\)(.*)', args)
+        return dict(zip(prefixsearch.group(1), prefixsearch.group(2)))
+
 ### FakeIRC classes, used for test cases
 
 class FakeIRC(Irc):
diff --git a/protocols/inspircd.py b/protocols/inspircd.py
index f5e559f..eb28b4e 100644
--- a/protocols/inspircd.py
+++ b/protocols/inspircd.py
@@ -444,11 +444,12 @@ class InspIRCdProtocol(TS6BaseProtocol):
             # USERMODES=,,s,BHIRSWcghikorwx GLOBOPS=1 SVSPART=1
 
             # First, turn the arguments into a dict
-            caps = dict([x.split('=') for x in args[-1].split()])
-
+            caps = self.parseCapabilities(args[-1])
+            log.debug("(%s) capabilities list: %s", self.irc.name, caps)
 
             # Check the protocol version
             protocol_version = int(caps['PROTOCOL'])
+
             if protocol_version < self.min_proto_ver:
                 raise ProtocolError("Remote protocol version is too old! "
                                     "At least %s (InspIRCd 2.0.x) is "
@@ -474,9 +475,7 @@ class InspIRCdProtocol(TS6BaseProtocol):
 
             # Separate the prefixes field (e.g. "(Yqaohv)!~&@%+") into a
             # dict mapping mode characters to mode prefixes.
-            prefixsearch = re.search(r'\(([A-Za-z]+)\)(.*)', caps['PREFIX'])
-            self.irc.prefixmodes = dict(zip(prefixsearch.group(1),
-                                            prefixsearch.group(2)))
+            self.irc.prefixmodes = self.parsePrefixes(caps['PREFIX'])
             log.debug('(%s) self.irc.prefixmodes set to %r', self.irc.name,
                       self.irc.prefixmodes)