diff --git a/bot.py b/bot.py
index fb36065..13cca9e 100644
--- a/bot.py
+++ b/bot.py
@@ -163,12 +163,12 @@ class IRCBot():
                         continue
                     channel_time = self.check_time(channel)
                     now = time()
-                    if self.counter(channel) < messages_within_timeout:
-                        if now - channel_time > timeout:
-                            self.send("#bots", f"i hear activity in {channel}...")
-                            # self.send("#tildetown", f"i hear activity in {channel}...")
-                            self.config["counts"][channel] = 0
-                            self.write_config()
+                    count = self.counter(channel)
+                    if now - channel_time > timeout and count > messages_within_timeout:
+                        self.config["counts"][channel] = 0
+                        self.write_config()
+                        self.send("#bots", f"i hear activity in {channel}...")
+                        # self.send("#tildetown", f"i hear activity in {channel}...")
                     self.set_time(channel, now)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":