diff --git a/src/conf.py b/src/conf.py
index 5dd1801eb..b9baed236 100644
--- a/src/conf.py
+++ b/src/conf.py
@@ -315,6 +315,12 @@ def registerNetwork(name, password='', ssl=False, sasl_username='',
     registerGlobalValue(network, 'nick', ValidNickOrEmpty('', _("""Determines
         what nick the bot will use on this network. If empty, defaults to
         supybot.nick.""")))
+    registerGlobalValue(network, 'ident', ValidNickOrEmpty('', _("""Determines
+        the bot's ident string, if the server doesn't provide one by default.
+        If empty, defaults to supybot.ident.""")))
+    registerGlobalValue(network, 'user', registry.String('', _("""Determines
+        the username the bot sends to the server. If empty, defaults to
+        supybot.user""")))
     registerGlobalValue(network, 'umodes',
         registry.String('', _("""Determines what user modes the bot will request
         from the server when it first connects. If empty, defaults to
diff --git a/src/irclib.py b/src/irclib.py
index 90c7b5c32..504f74c1b 100644
--- a/src/irclib.py
+++ b/src/irclib.py
@@ -895,12 +895,12 @@ class Irc(IrcCommandDispatcher):
 
     def _setNonResettingVariables(self):
         # Configuration stuff.
-        self.nick = conf.supybot.nick()
-        network_nick = conf.supybot.networks.get(self.network).nick()
-        if network_nick != '':
-            self.nick = network_nick
-        self.user = conf.supybot.user()
-        self.ident = conf.supybot.ident()
+        def get_value(name):
+            return getattr(conf.supybot.networks.get(self.network), name)() or \
+                getattr(conf.supybot, name)()
+        self.nick = get_value('nick')
+        self.user = get_value('user')
+        self.ident = get_value('ident')
         self.alternateNicks = conf.supybot.nick.alternates()[:]
         self.password = conf.supybot.networks.get(self.network).password()
         self.sasl_username = \