diff --git a/mesh_bot.py b/mesh_bot.py
index 81e2ac1..9301016 100755
--- a/mesh_bot.py
+++ b/mesh_bot.py
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ def handle_bbspost(message, message_from_id, deviceID):
             return "example: bbspost $subject #message"
     elif "@" in message and not "example:" in message:
         toNode = message.split("@")[1].split("#")[0]
-        toNode = toNode.rstrip()
+        toNode = toNode.rstrip().strip("!")
         if toNode.isalpha() or not toNode.isnumeric():
             toNode = get_num_from_short_name(toNode, deviceID)
             if toNode == 0: