diff --git a/irc.py b/irc.py
index c7afacd..03032da 100644
--- a/irc.py
+++ b/irc.py
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ class IRC(object):
 
 
 class IRCMessage(object):
-    r = re.compile("^:(?P<author>[\w.~|\[\]]+)(?:!(?P<host>\S+))? PRIVMSG (?P<to>\S+) :(?P<text>.+)")
+    r = re.compile("^(?:@[^ ]+ *)?:(?P<author>[\w.~|\[\]]+)(?:!(?P<host>\S+))? PRIVMSG (?P<to>\S+) :(?P<text>.+)")
 
     def __init__(self, raw):
         match = re.search(IRCMessage.r, raw)