diff --git a/irc/client.go b/irc/client.go
index 12777737..35e2890a 100644
--- a/irc/client.go
+++ b/irc/client.go
@@ -815,6 +815,11 @@ func (client *Client) Notice(text string) {
 	}
 	lines := wordWrap(text, limit)
 
+	// force blank lines to be sent if we receive them
+	if len(lines) == 0 {
+		lines = []string{""}
+	}
+
 	for _, line := range lines {
 		client.Send(nil, client.server.name, "NOTICE", client.nick, line)
 	}
diff --git a/irc/nickserv.go b/irc/nickserv.go
index 8b699a99..2fc2f448 100644
--- a/irc/nickserv.go
+++ b/irc/nickserv.go
@@ -305,5 +305,7 @@ func (server *Server) nickservReceivePrivmsg(client *Client, message string) {
 		}
 
 		client.Notice(client.t("Could not login with your TLS certificate or supplied username/password"))
+	} else {
+		client.Notice(client.t("Command not recognised. To see the available commands, run /NS HELP"))
 	}
 }