diff --git a/rowbot b/rowbot
index 24c962f..24aacf5 100755
--- a/rowbot
+++ b/rowbot
@@ -779,7 +779,7 @@ hook_cmd_control_panel() {
   msg)
     recipient=${action_line%% *}
     msg=${action_line#"$recipient"* }
-    declare -p recipient msg action_line
+    read -r msg <<< "$msg"
     privmsg "$recipient" "$msg"
     privmsg "$to" "sent message to $recipient"
   esac
@@ -874,6 +874,7 @@ while recv line; do
       is_action=yes
       action=${last#"$trigger"} action=${action%% *}
       action_line=${last#"$trigger$action" }
+      read -r action_line <<< "$action_line"
       read -ra action_args <<< "$action_line"
     fi
   fi