diff --git a/src/ircutils.py b/src/ircutils.py
index b06f3297b..f89796604 100644
--- a/src/ircutils.py
+++ b/src/ircutils.py
@@ -122,7 +122,9 @@ def isNick(s, strictRfc=True, nicklen=None):
             ret = len(s) <= nicklen
         return ret
     else:
-        return not isChannel(s) and not isUserHostmask(s) and not ' ' in s
+        return not isChannel(s) and \
+               not isUserHostmask(s) and \
+               not ' ' in s and not '!' in s
 
 def isChannel(s, chantypes='#&+!'):
     """Returns True if s is a valid IRC channel name."""