diff --git a/src/ircutils.py b/src/ircutils.py
index 49eafa33d..657b12366 100644
--- a/src/ircutils.py
+++ b/src/ircutils.py
@@ -198,7 +198,9 @@ def banmask(hostmask):
         else:
             return '*!*@'  + host
 
-def separateModes(args, requireArguments='ovhblkqe'):
+_plusRequireArguments = 'ovhblkqe'
+_minusRequireArguments = 'ocvbkqe'
+def separateModes(args):
     """Separates modelines into single mode change tuples.  Basically, you
     should give it the .args of a MODE IrcMsg.
 
@@ -216,9 +218,8 @@ def separateModes(args, requireArguments='ovhblkqe'):
     >>> separateModes(['+sntl', '100'])
     [('+s', None), ('+n', None), ('+t', None), ('+l', '100')]
     """
-    if not requireArguments:
-        if not isinstance(args, list):
-            args = [args]
+    if not args:
+        return []
     modes = args[0]
     assert modes[0] in '+-', 'Invalid args: %r' % args
     args = list(args[1:])
@@ -230,15 +231,16 @@ def separateModes(args, requireArguments='ovhblkqe'):
             last = modes[index]
             index += 1
         else:
+            if last == '+':
+                requireArguments = _plusRequireArguments
+            else:
+                requireArguments = _minusRequireArguments
             if modes[index] in requireArguments:
                 ret.append((last + modes[index], args.pop(0)))
             else:
                 ret.append((last + modes[index], None))
             index += 1
-    if not requireArguments: # Special case
-        return [x for (x, y) in ret]
-    else:
-        return ret
+    return ret
 
 def joinModes(modes):
     """Joins modes of the same form as returned by separateModes."""
diff --git a/test/test_ircutils.py b/test/test_ircutils.py
index f13f16085..af4a3a97c 100644
--- a/test/test_ircutils.py
+++ b/test/test_ircutils.py
@@ -156,12 +156,6 @@ class FunctionsTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(ircutils.separateModes(['+sntl', '100']),
                         [('+s', None),('+n', None),('+t', None),('+l', '100')])
 
-    def testSeparateModesWithoutRequireArguments(self):
-        self.assertEqual(ircutils.separateModes(['+oo-b'], ''),
-                         ['+o', '+o', '-b'])
-        self.assertEqual(ircutils.separateModes('+oo-b', ''),
-                         ['+o', '+o', '-b'])
-
     def testToLower(self):
         self.assertEqual('jemfinch', ircutils.toLower('jemfinch'))
         self.assertEqual('{}|^', ircutils.toLower('[]\\~'))