diff --git a/bridge/irc/irc.go b/bridge/irc/irc.go
index 1055808a..c8cb58f6 100644
--- a/bridge/irc/irc.go
+++ b/bridge/irc/irc.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	log "github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
 	ircm "github.com/sorcix/irc"
 	"github.com/thoj/go-ircevent"
+	"regexp"
 	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -158,6 +159,9 @@ func (b *Birc) handlePrivMsg(event *irc.Event) {
 		msg = event.Nick + " "
 	}
 	msg += event.Message()
+	// strip IRC colors
+	re := regexp.MustCompile(`[[:cntrl:]]\d+,\d`)
+	msg = re.ReplaceAllString(msg, "")
 	flog.Debugf("Sending message from %s on %s to gateway", event.Arguments[0], b.FullOrigin())
 	b.Remote <- config.Message{Username: event.Nick, Text: msg, Channel: event.Arguments[0], Origin: b.origin, Protocol: b.protocol, FullOrigin: b.FullOrigin()}
 }