diff --git a/plugins/babbler/babbler.go b/plugins/babbler/babbler.go
index 4dd816b..5b21dea 100644
--- a/plugins/babbler/babbler.go
+++ b/plugins/babbler/babbler.go
@@ -121,7 +121,8 @@ func (p *BabblerPlugin) Message(message msg.Message) bool {
 		saidWhat, saidSomething = p.getBabbleWithSuffix(tokens)
 	} else if numTokens >= 2 && tokens[1] == "says-middle-out" {
 			saidWhatStart, saidSomethingStart := p.getBabbleWithSuffix(tokens)
-			if !saidSomethingStart || saidWhatStart == strings.Join(tokens[2:], " ") {
+			neverSaidLooksLike := fmt.Sprintf("%s never said '%s'", tokens[0], strings.Join(tokens[2:], " "))
+			if !saidSomethingStart || saidWhatStart == neverSaidLooksLike {
 				saidSomething = saidSomethingStart
 				saidWhat = saidWhatStart
 			} else {
diff --git a/plugins/babbler/babbler_test.go b/plugins/babbler/babbler_test.go
index d3e0727..b574f6a 100644
--- a/plugins/babbler/babbler_test.go
+++ b/plugins/babbler/babbler_test.go
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ func TestBabblerBadMiddleOutSeed(t *testing.T) {
 	res = c.Message(makeMessage("!seabass says-middle-out anything true"))
 	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 1)
 	assert.True(t, res)
-	assert.Contains(t, mb.Messages[0], "seabass never said 'anything true'")
+	assert.Equal(t, mb.Messages[0], "seabass never said 'anything true'")
 }