diff --git a/adminchannel.py b/adminchannel.py
index 269987d08a..ec4b206705 100644
--- a/adminchannel.py
+++ b/adminchannel.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 import re
 from willie.module import commands, priority, OP
+from willie.tools import Nick
 
 
 def setup(bot):
@@ -87,11 +88,11 @@ def kick(bot, trigger):
     argc = len(text)
     if argc < 2:
         return
-    opt = text[1]
+    opt = Nick(text[1])
     nick = opt
     channel = trigger.sender
     reasonidx = 2
-    if opt.startswith('#'):
+    if not opt.is_nick():
         if argc < 3:
             return
         nick = text[2]
@@ -137,10 +138,10 @@ def ban(bot, trigger):
     argc = len(text)
     if argc < 2:
         return
-    opt = text[1]
+    opt = Nick(text[1])
     banmask = opt
     channel = trigger.sender
-    if opt.startswith('#'):
+    if not opt.is_nick():
         if argc < 3:
             return
         channel = opt
@@ -163,10 +164,10 @@ def unban(bot, trigger):
     argc = len(text)
     if argc < 2:
         return
-    opt = text[1]
+    opt = Nick(text[1])
     banmask = opt
     channel = trigger.sender
-    if opt.startswith('#'):
+    if not opt.is_nick():
         if argc < 3:
             return
         channel = opt
@@ -189,10 +190,10 @@ def quiet(bot, trigger):
     argc = len(text)
     if argc < 2:
         return
-    opt = text[1]
+    opt = Nick(text[1])
     quietmask = opt
     channel = trigger.sender
-    if opt.startswith('#'):
+    if not opt.is_nick():
         if argc < 3:
             return
         quietmask = text[2]
@@ -215,10 +216,10 @@ def unquiet(bot, trigger):
     argc = len(text)
     if argc < 2:
         return
-    opt = text[1]
+    opt = Nick(text[1])
     quietmask = opt
     channel = trigger.sender
-    if opt.startswith('#'):
+    if not opt.is_nick():
         if argc < 3:
             return
         quietmask = text[2]
@@ -243,11 +244,11 @@ def kickban(bot, trigger):
     argc = len(text)
     if argc < 4:
         return
-    opt = text[1]
+    opt = Nick(text[1])
     nick = opt
     mask = text[2]
     reasonidx = 3
-    if opt.startswith('#'):
+    if not opt.is_nick():
         if argc < 5:
             return
         channel = opt
diff --git a/chanlogs.py b/chanlogs.py
index 44cabddc91..521f2f08ee 100644
--- a/chanlogs.py
+++ b/chanlogs.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def setup(bot):
 def log_message(bot, message):
     "Log every message in a channel"
     # if this is a private message and we're not logging those, return early
-    if not bot.origin.sender.startswith("#") and not bot.config.chanlogs.privmsg:
+    if message.sender.is_nick() and not bot.config.chanlogs.privmsg:
         return
 
     # determine which template we want, message or action
diff --git a/meetbot.py b/meetbot.py
index 025ff51e0f..f1e330c7ca 100644
--- a/meetbot.py
+++ b/meetbot.py
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ def take_comment(bot, trigger):
     """
     target, message = trigger.group(2).split(None, 1)
     target = Nick(target)
-    if trigger.sender[0] in '#&+!':
+    if not trigger.sender.is_nick():
         return
     if not ismeetingrunning(target):
         bot.say("There's not currently a meeting in that channel.")
diff --git a/wikipedia.py b/wikipedia.py
index 30110e352d..94699e3528 100644
--- a/wikipedia.py
+++ b/wikipedia.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def wikipedia(bot, trigger):
     #change lang if channel has custom language set
     if (
         trigger.sender and
-        trigger.sender.startswith('#') and
+        not trigger.sender.is_nick() and
         bot.config.has_option('wikipedia', 'lang_per_channel')
        ):
         customlang = re.search(