diff --git a/irc.go b/irc.go
index 430b692..f2d9528 100644
--- a/irc.go
+++ b/irc.go
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ func NewConnection(server, nick, user, pass string, chans []string) *Connection
 	return irc
 }
 
-func getNick(name string) string {
+//GetNick gets the nickname portion of a host string
+func GetNick(name string) string {
 	return strings.Split(name, "!")[0]
 }