diff --git a/plugins/fishlim/plugin_hexchat.c b/plugins/fishlim/plugin_hexchat.c
index dbda808d..b898b93d 100644
--- a/plugins/fishlim/plugin_hexchat.c
+++ b/plugins/fishlim/plugin_hexchat.c
@@ -357,7 +357,6 @@ cleanup:
 static int handle_setkey(char *word[], char *word_eol[], void *userdata) {
     const char *nick;
     const char *key;
-    char *key_lower;
     enum fish_mode mode;
 
     /* Check syntax */
@@ -377,14 +376,12 @@ static int handle_setkey(char *word[], char *word_eol[], void *userdata) {
     }
 
     mode = FISH_ECB_MODE;
-    key_lower = g_ascii_strdown(key, -1);
-    if (strncmp("cbc:", key_lower, 4) == 0) {
+    if (g_ascii_strncasecmp("cbc:", key, 4) == 0) {
         key = key+4;
         mode = FISH_CBC_MODE;
-    } else if (strncmp("ecb:", key_lower, 4) == 0) {
+    } else if (g_ascii_strncasecmp("ecb:", key, 4) == 0) {
         key = key+4;
     }
-    g_free(key_lower);
 
     /* Set password */
     if (keystore_store_key(nick, key, mode)) {