diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 26f8469..5f04328 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ input.txt
 subscribers.txt
 email-subscribers.txt
 now_playing.txt
+account.ini
diff --git a/account.ini.sample b/account.ini.sample
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f00beb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/account.ini.sample
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+account=bensbots
+password=my super secret password
+
diff --git a/bot.sh b/bot.sh
index a87a123..6824669 100644
--- a/bot.sh
+++ b/bot.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 # read configs
 . bot.properties
 
+# not registered and identified
+reg=""
+
 printf "starting %s: %s\n" "$nick" "$(date "+[%y:%m:%d %T]")"
 
 function send {
@@ -75,8 +78,22 @@ do
             send "$(printf %s "$line" | sed "s/I/O/")"
             ;;
 
+        # log in to services
+        *001*) # RPL_WELCOME
+            if [ -z "$reg" ] && [ -f account.ini ]; then
+                . account.ini
+                send "SQUERY NickServ identify $account $password"
+            fi
+            ;;
+
+        # grab account name if authentication successful
+        *900*) # RPL_LOGGEDIN
+            reg=$(printf %s "$line" | sed -E "s/.* (.*) :.*/\1/")
+            printf "successfully logged in as '%s'\n" "$reg"
+            ;;
+
         # make sure we're joined
-        *376*|*404*)
+        *376*) # RPL_ENDOFMOTD
             for chan in $notify_channels; do
                 send "JOIN #$chan"
             done
@@ -89,7 +106,7 @@ do
 
             # "#" would mean it's a channel
             if printf %s "$from" | grep -q "^#"; then
-                # channel messages need to continue our nick
+                # channel messages need to contain our nick
                 printf %s "$line" | grep -q ":$nick:" || continue
                 trailing=$(printf %s "$line" | sed -E "s/.*:$nick:(.*)/\1/")
             else