diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index 11b6bf9..116886c 100755
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@ transparenzbericht() {
 }
 
 seen() {
+    # TODO the newer ii saves unix timestamps. We could detect that and
+    # parse it on output (or input)
     [ -z "$1" ] && return
     [ -f "$BOTDIR/seen/$1" ] \
         && say "$(cat "$BOTDIR/seen/$1")" \
@@ -196,6 +198,14 @@ do
     NICK=$(echo "$line" \
                 | sed -n 's/^....-..-.. ..:.. <\([^>]*\).*/\1/p')
 
+    if [ -z "$NICK" ]
+    then
+
+    # the newer ii is using unix timestamps
+    NICK=$(echo "$line" \
+                | sed -n 's/^[0-9]* <\([^>]*\).*/\1/p')
+    fi
+
     # prevent loops; so the bot can't trigger itself.
     [ "$NICK" == "$BOTNICK" ] \
         && continue