diff --git a/src/irclib.py b/src/irclib.py
index 289b9f098..a7fc5e357 100644
--- a/src/irclib.py
+++ b/src/irclib.py
@@ -182,10 +182,10 @@ class ChannelState(object):
     __slots__ = ('users', 'ops', 'halfops', 'voices', 'topic')
     def __init__(self):
         self.topic = ''
-        self.users = ircutils.IrcSet() # sets.Set()
-        self.ops = ircutils.IrcSet() # sets.Set()
-        self.halfops = ircutils.IrcSet() # sets.Set()
-        self.voices = ircutils.IrcSet() # sets.Set()
+        self.users = ircutils.IrcSet()
+        self.ops = ircutils.IrcSet()
+        self.halfops = ircutils.IrcSet()
+        self.voices = ircutils.IrcSet()
 
     def addUser(self, user):
         "Adds a given user to the ChannelState.  Power prefixes are handled."
diff --git a/src/ircutils.py b/src/ircutils.py
index 27d3383c8..f94cad35f 100644
--- a/src/ircutils.py
+++ b/src/ircutils.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ IRC-case-insensitive fashion), and numerous other things.
 import fix
 
 import re
+import copy
 import sets
 import string
 import fnmatch
@@ -355,11 +356,19 @@ class IrcDict(dict):
     def __delitem__(self, s):
         self.__parent.__delitem__(IrcString(s))
 
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return '%s(%s)' % (self.__class__.__name__, self.__parent.__repr__())
+
+    def __reduce__(self):
+        return (self.__class__, (dict(self),))
+
 class IrcSet(sets.Set):
     """A sets.Set using IrcStrings instead of regular strings."""
-    def __init__(self):
+    def __init__(self, seq=()):
         self.__parent = super(IrcSet, self)
         self.__parent.__init__()
+        for elt in seq:
+            self.add(elt)
         
     def add(self, s):
         return self.__parent.add(IrcString(s))
@@ -372,9 +381,12 @@ class IrcSet(sets.Set):
 
     def __contains__(self, s):
         return self.__parent.__contains__(IrcString(s))
-
     has_key = __contains__
 
+    def __reduce__(self):
+        return (self.__class__, (list(self),))
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     import sys, doctest
     doctest.testmod(sys.modules['__main__'])
diff --git a/test/test_ircutils.py b/test/test_ircutils.py
index bcb62318b..c6f061685 100644
--- a/test/test_ircutils.py
+++ b/test/test_ircutils.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 
 from test import *
 
+import copy
 import random
 
 import ircmsgs
@@ -205,6 +206,12 @@ class IrcDictTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         d['#fOOBAR[]'] = 'blah'
         self.assertEqual('blah', d['#foobar{}'])
 
+    def testCopyable(self):
+        d = ircutils.IrcDict()
+        d['foo'] = 'bar'
+        self.failUnless(d == copy.copy(d))
+        self.failUnless(d == copy.deepcopy(d))
+
 class IrcSetTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def test(self):
         s = ircutils.IrcSet()
@@ -217,6 +224,26 @@ class IrcSetTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.failIf('foo' in s)
         self.failIf('FOo' in s)
 
+    def testCopy(self):
+        s = ircutils.IrcSet()
+        s.add('foo')
+        s.add('bar')
+        s1 = copy.deepcopy(s)
+        self.failUnless('foo' in s)
+        self.failUnless('FOO' in s)
+        s.discard('alfkj')
+        s.remove('FOo')
+        self.failIf('foo' in s)
+        self.failIf('FOo' in s)
+        self.failUnless('foo' in s1)
+        self.failUnless('FOO' in s1)
+        s1.discard('alfkj')
+        s1.remove('FOo')
+        self.failIf('foo' in s1)
+        self.failIf('FOo' in s1)
+
+        
+
 class IrcStringTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def testEquality(self):
         self.assertEqual('#foo', ircutils.IrcString('#foo'))