diff --git a/irc/handlers.go b/irc/handlers.go
index a89b44dd..1444ef47 100644
--- a/irc/handlers.go
+++ b/irc/handlers.go
@@ -2411,6 +2411,11 @@ func webircHandler(server *Server, client *Client, msg ircmsg.IrcMessage, rb *Re
 				}
 
 				proxiedIP := msg.Params[3]
+				// see #211; websocket gateways will wrap ipv6 addresses in square brackets
+				// because IRC parameters can't start with :
+				if strings.HasPrefix(proxiedIP, "[") && strings.HasSuffix(proxiedIP, "]") {
+					proxiedIP = proxiedIP[1 : len(proxiedIP)-1]
+				}
 				return client.ApplyProxiedIP(proxiedIP, secure)
 			}
 		}