diff --git a/Bantracker/config.py b/Bantracker/config.py
index a5c081c..b8f183f 100644
--- a/Bantracker/config.py
+++ b/Bantracker/config.py
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ conf.registerGlobalValue(Bantracker, 'database',
 conf.registerGlobalValue(Bantracker, 'bansite',
         registry.String('', "Web site for the bantracker, without the 'bans.cgi' appended", private=True))
 
-conf.registerGroup(Bantracker, 'request')
+conf.registerChannelValue(Bantracker, 'request',
+        registry.Boolean(False,
+            "Enable message requests from bot"))
 conf.registerChannelValue(Bantracker.request, 'type',
         SpaceSeparatedListOfTypes(['removal', 'ban', 'quiet'],
             "List of events for which the bot should request a comment."))
diff --git a/Bantracker/plugin.py b/Bantracker/plugin.py
index d3f7a8a..f809fe8 100644
--- a/Bantracker/plugin.py
+++ b/Bantracker/plugin.py
@@ -408,9 +408,11 @@ class Bantracker(callbacks.Plugin):
         return data
 
     def requestComment(self, irc, channel, ban, type=None):
+        if not ban or not self.registryValue('request', channel):
+            return
         # check if we should request a comment
         if nickMatch(ban.who, self.registryValue('request.ignore', channel=channel)):
-                return
+            return
         # check the type of the action taken
         mask = ban.mask
         if not type:
@@ -539,7 +541,12 @@ class Bantracker(callbacks.Plugin):
 #        self.logs[channel] = self.logs[channel][-199:] + [s.strip()]
         self.logs[channel].append(s.strip())
 
-    def doKickban(self, irc, channel, operator, target, kickmsg = None, use_time = None, extra_comment = None):
+    def doKickban(self, irc, channel, *args, **kwargs):
+        ban = self._doKickban(irc, channel, *args, **kwargs)
+        self.requestComment(irc, channel, ban)
+        return ban
+
+    def _doKickban(self, irc, channel, operator, target, kickmsg = None, use_time = None, extra_comment = None):
         if not self.registryValue('enabled', channel):
             return
         n = now()
@@ -559,8 +566,7 @@ class Bantracker(callbacks.Plugin):
             self.bans[channel] = []
         ban = Ban(mask=target, who=operator, when=time.mktime(time.gmtime()), id=id)
         self.bans[channel].append(ban)
-        self.requestComment(irc, channel, ban)
-        return id
+        return ban
 
     def doUnban(self, irc, channel, nick, mask):
         if not self.registryValue('enabled', channel):
@@ -810,7 +816,7 @@ class Bantracker(callbacks.Plugin):
         hostmask = self.nick_to_host(irc, target)
 
         self.doLog(irc, channel.lower(), '*** %s requested a mark for %s\n' % (msg.nick, target))
-        self.doKickban(irc, channel.lower(), msg.prefix, hostmask, kickmsg)
+        self._doKickban(irc, channel.lower(), msg.prefix, hostmask, kickmsg)
         irc.replySuccess()
 
     mark = wrap(mark, [optional('channel'), 'something', additional('text')])
@@ -1030,7 +1036,7 @@ class Bantracker(callbacks.Plugin):
                     nick = "Automated-Addition"
                 self.log.info("Adding ban %s to %s (%s)" % (str(ban).replace('%', '%%'), chan, nick))
                 self.doLog(irc, channel.lower(), '*** Ban sync from channel: %s\n' % str(ban).replace('%', '%%'))
-                self.doKickban(irc, chan, nick, ban.mask, use_time = ban.when)
+                self._doKickban(irc, chan, nick, ban.mask, use_time = ban.when)
             return len(add_bans)
 
         if not self.check_auth(irc, msg, args, 'owner'):
diff --git a/Bantracker/test.py b/Bantracker/test.py
index 16e8e73..77906ac 100644
--- a/Bantracker/test.py
+++ b/Bantracker/test.py
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ class BantrackerTestCase(ChannelPluginTestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         super(BantrackerTestCase, self).setUp()
         self.setDb()
-        pluginConf.request.ignore.set('*') # disable comments
+        pluginConf.request.setValue(False) # disable comments
+        pluginConf.request.ignore.set('')
         pluginConf.request.forward.set('')
         pluginConf.request.review.setValue(1.0/86400) # one second
 
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ class BantrackerTestCase(ChannelPluginTestCase):
         return ban
 
     def testComment(self):
-        pluginConf.request.ignore.set('')
+        pluginConf.request.setValue(True)
         # test bans
         self.feedBan('asd!*@*')
         msg = self.irc.takeMsg()
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ class BantrackerTestCase(ChannelPluginTestCase):
             " <comment>")
 
     def testCommentForward(self):
-        pluginConf.request.ignore.set('')
+        pluginConf.request.setValue(True)
         pluginConf.request.forward.set('bot')
         pluginConf.request.forward.channels.set('#channel')
         self.feedBan('qwe!*@*')
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ class BantrackerTestCase(ChannelPluginTestCase):
             " use: @comment 2 <comment>")
 
     def testReview(self):
-        pluginConf.request.ignore.set('')
+        pluginConf.request.setValue(True)
         cb = self.getCallback()
         self.feedBan('asd!*@*')
         self.irc.takeMsg() # ignore comment request comment
@@ -180,7 +181,7 @@ class BantrackerTestCase(ChannelPluginTestCase):
             "%s/bans.cgi?log=2" %(cb.bans['#test'][1].ascwhen, pluginConf.bansite()))
 
     def testReviewForward(self):
-        pluginConf.request.ignore.set('')
+        pluginConf.request.setValue(True)
         pluginConf.request.forward.set('bot')
         pluginConf.request.forward.channels.set('#channel')
         cb = self.getCallback()
@@ -201,7 +202,7 @@ class BantrackerTestCase(ChannelPluginTestCase):
     def testReviewNickFallback(self):
         """If for some reason we don't have ops full hostmask, revert to nick match. This may be
         needed in the future as hostmasks aren't stored in the db."""
-        pluginConf.request.ignore.set('')
+        pluginConf.request.setValue(True)
         cb = self.getCallback()
         self.feedBan('asd!*@*')
         self.irc.takeMsg() # ignore comment request comment