diff --git a/src/ircutils.py b/src/ircutils.py
index 75eec678b..6bfb42350 100644
--- a/src/ircutils.py
+++ b/src/ircutils.py
@@ -95,11 +95,11 @@ def nickEqual(nick1, nick2):
     return toLower(nick1) == toLower(nick2)
 
 _nickchars = r'_[]\`^{}|-'
-_nickre = re.compile(r'^[A-Za-z%s][0-9A-Za-z%s]*$' % (re.escape(_nickchars),
-                                                      re.escape(_nickchars)))
+nickRe = re.compile(r'^[A-Za-z%s][0-9A-Za-z%s]*$' % (re.escape(_nickchars),
+                                                     re.escape(_nickchars)))
 def isNick(s):
     """Returns True if s is a valid IRC nick."""
-    if re.match(_nickre, s):
+    if re.match(nickRe, s):
         return True
     else:
         return False