diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index 5a9ebbd..a585def 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 ###
 
-from supybot import conf, registry
+from supybot import conf, registry, ircutils
 try:
     from supybot.i18n import PluginInternationalization
     _ = PluginInternationalization('SnoParser')
@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@ except:
     # without the i18n module
     _ = lambda x: x
 
+class ValidChannel(registry.string):
+    """Value must be a valid channel"""
+    def setValue(self, v):
+        if not (ircutils.isChannel(v)):
+            self.error()
+        registry.String.setValue(self, v)
 
 def configure(advanced):
     # This will be called by supybot to configure this module.  advanced is
@@ -52,8 +58,8 @@ SnoParser = conf.registerPlugin('SnoParser')
 # conf.registerGlobalValue(SnoParser, 'someConfigVariableName',
 #     registry.Boolean(False, _("""Help for someConfigVariableName.""")))
 
-conf.registerGlobalValue(SnoParser, 'targetChannel',
-    registry.String(None, ("""Sends reformatted snolines to the <channel>""")))
+conf.registerNetworkValue(SnoParser, 'targetChannel', ValidChannel,
+    ("", ("""Determines which channel the bot should send snolines""")))
 
 conf.registerGlobalValue(SnoParser, 'AutoVhost',
     registry.String('libcasa/user/', ("""Configure the vhost eg. libcasa/user/$account""")))
diff --git a/plugin.py b/plugin.py
index d10c8e0..ec1ec38 100644
--- a/plugin.py
+++ b/plugin.py
@@ -397,11 +397,11 @@ class SnoParser(callbacks.Plugin):
     def _sendSnotice(self, irc, msg, repl):
         try:
             channel = self.registryValue('targetChannel')
-            if channel[0] == '#':
+            if irc.isChannel(channel):
                 irc.queueMsg(msg=ircmsgs.IrcMsg(command='NOTICE',
                         args=(channel, repl)))
         # what sort of exception does one raise
-        except:
+        except :
             pass
 
 
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..82d9a1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+dnspython==2.0.0
+ipwhois==1.2.0
+redis==3.5.3