diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index 91a269c..67aa8d4 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ func (s *Server) Serve(ln net.Listener) error {
 func (s *Server) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 	conn, err := websocket.Accept(w, req, &websocket.AcceptOptions{
 		OriginPatterns: s.HTTPOrigins,
+		Subprotocols:   []string{"irc"},
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		s.Logger.Printf("failed to serve HTTP connection: %v", err)