diff --git a/plugins/Karma/config.py b/plugins/Karma/config.py
index 376348b20..fcc62db1f 100644
--- a/plugins/Karma/config.py
+++ b/plugins/Karma/config.py
@@ -66,5 +66,8 @@ conf.registerChannelValue(Karma, 'allowSelfRating',
 conf.registerChannelValue(Karma, 'allowUnaddressedKarma',
     registry.Boolean(True, _("""Determines whether the bot will
     increase/decrease karma without being addressed.""")))
+conf.registerChannelValue(Karma, 'onlyNicks',
+    registry.Boolean(False, _("""Determines whether the bot will
+    only increase/decrease karma for nicks in the current channel.""")))
 
 # vim:set shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4 expandtab textwidth=79:
diff --git a/plugins/Karma/plugin.py b/plugins/Karma/plugin.py
index 59275410d..c29bedabb 100644
--- a/plugins/Karma/plugin.py
+++ b/plugins/Karma/plugin.py
@@ -246,12 +246,13 @@ class Karma(callbacks.Plugin):
     def _doKarma(self, irc, msg, channel, thing):
         inc = self.registryValue('incrementChars', channel)
         dec = self.registryValue('decrementChars', channel)
+        onlynicks = self.registryValue('onlyNicks', channel)
         karma = ''
         for s in inc:
             if thing.endswith(s):
                 thing = thing[:-len(s)]
                 # Don't reply if the target isn't a nick
-                if thing.lower() not in map(ircutils.toLower,
+                if onlynicks and thing.lower() not in map(ircutils.toLower,
                         irc.state.channels[channel].users):
                     return
                 if ircutils.strEqual(thing, msg.nick) and \
@@ -263,7 +264,7 @@ class Karma(callbacks.Plugin):
         for s in dec:
             if thing.endswith(s):
                 thing = thing[:-len(s)]
-                if thing.lower() not in map(ircutils.toLower,
+                if onlynicks and thing.lower() not in map(ircutils.toLower,
                         irc.state.channels[channel].users):
                     return
                 if ircutils.strEqual(thing, msg.nick) and \