diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/MessageComposerInput.js b/src/components/views/rooms/MessageComposerInput.js
index ddb205d08e..2c011f3770 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/MessageComposerInput.js
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/MessageComposerInput.js
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ export default class MessageComposerInput extends React.Component {
                 // paths for inserting a user pill is not fun
                 const selection = this.state.editorState.getSelection();
                 const member = this.props.room.getMember(payload.user_id);
-                const completion = member ? member.name : payload.user_id;
+                const completion = member ? member.name.replace(' (IRC)', '') : payload.user_id;
                 this.setDisplayedCompletion({
                     completion,
                     selection,