diff --git a/server/electrum.conf.sample b/server/electrum.conf.sample
index 6aebfc39..c1977506 100644
--- a/server/electrum.conf.sample
+++ b/server/electrum.conf.sample
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ port = 50000
 password = secret
 banner = Welcome to Electrum!
 irc = yes
+ircname = public Electrum server
 
 [database]
 type = sqlite3
diff --git a/server/server.py b/server/server.py
index b58e99a0..baf6391a 100755
--- a/server/server.py
+++ b/server/server.py
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ def irc_thread():
         try:
             s = socket.socket()
             s.connect(('irc.freenode.net', 6667))
-            s.send('USER '+config.get('server','host')+' '+NICK+' bla :'+NICK+'\n') 
+            s.send('USER electrum 0 * '+config.get('server','host')+' '+config.get('server','ircname')+'\n')
             s.send('NICK '+NICK+'\n')
             s.send('JOIN #electrum\n')
             t = 0