diff --git a/src/ircbot/irc3module.py b/src/ircbot/irc3module.py
index 3ef7c761..bd6e386d 100644
--- a/src/ircbot/irc3module.py
+++ b/src/ircbot/irc3module.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.utils import timezone
 from events.models import Routing
 from teams.utils import get_team_from_irc_channel
-import time
 
 import logging
 logger = logging.getLogger("bornhack.%s" % __name__)
@@ -302,9 +301,6 @@ class Plugin(object):
             # also add autoinvite for this username
             self.bot.mode(channel, '+I', '$a:%s' % username)
 
-        # add a delay so the bot doesn't flood itself off
-        time.sleep(1)
-
 
     @irc3.extend
     def fix_missing_acls(self):
diff --git a/src/ircbot/ircworker.py b/src/ircbot/ircworker.py
index f3864d8d..5e5fb8d2 100644
--- a/src/ircbot/ircworker.py
+++ b/src/ircbot/ircworker.py
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ def do_work():
         'port': settings.IRCBOT_SERVER_PORT,
         'ssl': settings.IRCBOT_SERVER_USETLS,
         'timeout': 30,
+        'flood_burst': 2,
+        'flood_rate': 1,
+        'flood_rate_delay': 2,
         'includes': [
             'ircbot.irc3module',
         ],