diff --git a/downstream.go b/downstream.go
index fbb92a8..460c061 100644
--- a/downstream.go
+++ b/downstream.go
@@ -282,6 +282,7 @@ var passthroughIsupport = map[string]bool{
 	"NICKLEN":       true,
 	"PREFIX":        true,
 	"SAFELIST":      true,
+	"STATUSMSG":     true,
 	"TARGMAX":       true,
 	"TOPICLEN":      true,
 	"USERLEN":       true,
diff --git a/upstream.go b/upstream.go
index 6b3a5b5..979bb60 100644
--- a/upstream.go
+++ b/upstream.go
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ type upstreamConn struct {
 	availableUserModes    string
 	availableChannelModes map[byte]channelModeType
 	availableChannelTypes string
+	availableStatusMsg    string
 	availableMemberships  []xirc.Membership
 	isupport              map[string]*string
 
@@ -373,6 +374,7 @@ func connectToUpstream(ctx context.Context, network *network) (*upstreamConn, er
 		batches:               make(map[string]upstreamBatch),
 		serverPrefix:          &irc.Prefix{Name: "*"},
 		availableChannelTypes: stdChannelTypes,
+		availableStatusMsg:    "",
 		availableChannelModes: stdChannelModes,
 		availableMemberships:  stdMemberships,
 		isupport:              make(map[string]*string),
@@ -632,6 +634,9 @@ func (uc *upstreamConn) handleMessage(ctx context.Context, msg *irc.Message) err
 			}
 		}
 
+		// remove statusmsg sigils from target
+		target = strings.TrimLeft(target, uc.availableStatusMsg)
+
 		if uc.network.equalCasemap(msg.Prefix.Name, serviceNick) {
 			uc.logger.Printf("skipping %v from soju's service: %v", msg.Command, msg)
 			break
@@ -973,6 +978,12 @@ func (uc *upstreamConn) handleMessage(ctx context.Context, msg *irc.Message) err
 				} else {
 					uc.availableChannelTypes = stdChannelTypes
 				}
+			case "STATUSMSG":
+				if !negate {
+					uc.availableStatusMsg = value
+				} else {
+					uc.availableStatusMsg = ""
+				}
 			case "PREFIX":
 				if !negate {
 					err = uc.handleMemberships(value)