diff --git a/notify.py b/notify.py
index 6a0d9bbe9b62a13a6a81afe4491d00912ce9b278..381949fa53c942ab248444b33c1690854dfb2935 100644
--- a/notify.py
+++ b/notify.py
@@ -62,6 +62,13 @@ class IINotification(BaseNotification):
         while not os.path.exists(cmd_in):
             time.sleep(0.01)
 
+        ## the server wants to send us stuff, and usually says "end of MOTD" at the end
+        cmd_out = os.path.join(self.dir, self.ircsrv, "out")
+        with open(cmd_out, "r") as f:
+            for line in f.readlines():
+                if line.find("MOTD") != -1:
+                    break
+
         with open(cmd_in, "a") as c:
             c.write("/j " + self.chan + "\n")