diff --git a/src/ircbot/irc3module.py b/src/ircbot/irc3module.py
index d2c67d83..d6b2367a 100644
--- a/src/ircbot/irc3module.py
+++ b/src/ircbot/irc3module.py
@@ -74,12 +74,12 @@ class Plugin(object):
     @irc3.event(irc3.rfc.PRIVMSG)
     def on_privmsg(self, **kwargs):
         """triggered when a privmsg is sent to the bot or to a channel the bot is in"""
-        logger.debug("inside on_privmsg(), kwargs: %s" % kwargs)
-
         # we only handle NOTICEs for now
         if kwargs['event'] != "NOTICE":
             return
 
+        logger.debug("inside on_privmsg(), kwargs: %s" % kwargs)
+
         # check if this is a message from nickserv
         if kwargs['mask'] == "NickServ!%s" % settings.IRCBOT_NICKSERV_MASK:
             self.bot.handle_nickserv_privmsg(**kwargs)