diff --git a/src/ircmsgs.py b/src/ircmsgs.py
index 5cb07c28c..0d5e818c7 100644
--- a/src/ircmsgs.py
+++ b/src/ircmsgs.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class IrcMsg(object):
         self._user = user
         self._host = host
         self._command = command
-        if self.command == 'NICK':
+        if self.command == 'NICK' and type(args) != tuple:
             args[0] = ircutils.nick(args[0])
         self._args = tuple(args)