diff --git a/actions.go b/actions.go
index 690d8e4..2a9d9e7 100644
--- a/actions.go
+++ b/actions.go
@@ -66,6 +66,11 @@ func triggerAction(c *irc.Client, m *irc.Message, rule *plugins.Rule, ra *plugin
 }
 
 func handleMessage(c *irc.Client, m *irc.Message, event *string, eventData *plugins.FieldCollection) {
+	// Send events to registered handlers
+	if event != nil {
+		go notifyEventHandlers(*event, eventData)
+	}
+
 	for _, r := range config.GetMatchingRules(m, event, eventData) {
 		var preventCooldown bool
 
@@ -83,9 +88,4 @@ func handleMessage(c *irc.Client, m *irc.Message, event *string, eventData *plug
 			r.SetCooldown(timerStore, m, eventData)
 		}
 	}
-
-	// Send events to registered handlers
-	if event != nil {
-		notifyEventHandlers(*event, eventData)
-	}
 }