diff --git a/rowbot b/rowbot
index 83a8eb5..a72f4e2 100755
--- a/rowbot
+++ b/rowbot
@@ -59,10 +59,6 @@ error() {
 # utilities
 ###
 
-parent() {
-  (( BASHPID == $$ ))
-}
-
 has() {
   hash "$1" 2>/dev/null
 }
@@ -80,6 +76,14 @@ die() {
   exit "$status"
 }
 
+is-parent() {
+  (( BASHPID == $$ ))
+}
+
+is-channel() {
+  [[ ${1:0:1} = \# ]]
+}
+
 is-log-level() {
   local level
 
@@ -94,7 +98,7 @@ is-log-level() {
 
 ###
 # argument parser for parsing arguments
-##
+###
 
 original_args=( "$@" )
 declare -A opts
@@ -128,7 +132,7 @@ prog_args=( "$@" )
 
 ###
 # default config
-##
+###
 
 server=irc.libera.chat port=6667 tls=no client_cert=
 nick=rowbot-dev ident=rowbot realname=rowbot chan=
@@ -286,7 +290,7 @@ cleanup() {
   fi
 }
 
-if parent; then
+if is-parent; then
   trap cleanup EXIT
 fi
 
@@ -694,7 +698,7 @@ who() {
 
 ###
 # app hooks
-##
+###
 
 hook_pre_PRIVMSG_nolog() {
   local words