diff --git a/rowbot b/rowbot
index 2c9c18f..47d356f 100755
--- a/rowbot
+++ b/rowbot
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ is_action() {
 }
 
 is_chan() {
-  [[ ${msg_args[${1:-0}]} = \# ]]
+  [[ ${msg_args[${1:-0}]:0:1} = \# ]]
 }
 
 is_parent() {