diff --git a/msgformatter.go b/msgformatter.go
index 23a3905..55d0dd1 100644
--- a/msgformatter.go
+++ b/msgformatter.go
@@ -14,12 +14,14 @@ func formatMessage(tplString string, m *irc.Message, r *rule, fields map[string]
 		fields = map[string]interface{}{}
 	}
 
-	fields["msg"] = m
-	fields["permitTimeout"] = int64(config.PermitTimeout / time.Second)
-	fields["username"] = m.User
+	if m != nil {
+		fields["msg"] = m
+		fields["permitTimeout"] = int64(config.PermitTimeout / time.Second)
+		fields["username"] = m.User
 
-	if m.Command == "PRIVMSG" && len(m.Params) > 0 {
-		fields["channel"] = m.Params[0]
+		if m.Command == "PRIVMSG" && len(m.Params) > 0 {
+			fields["channel"] = m.Params[0]
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Parse and execute template