diff --git a/fjerkroa_bot/discord_bot.py b/fjerkroa_bot/discord_bot.py
index 7bdb7aa..9d91c82 100644
--- a/fjerkroa_bot/discord_bot.py
+++ b/fjerkroa_bot/discord_bot.py
@@ -84,7 +84,11 @@ class FjerkroaBot(commands.Bot):
                         channel_name: Optional[str],
                         fallback_channel: Optional[Union[TextChannel, DMChannel]] = None
                         ) -> Optional[Union[TextChannel, DMChannel]]:
-        if channel_name is None or channel_name in self.config.get("ignore-channels", []):
+        if channel_name is None:
+            return fallback_channel
+        if channel_name.startswith("#"):
+            channel_name = channel_name[1:]
+        if channel_name in self.config.get("ignore-channels", []):
             return fallback_channel
         for guild in self.guilds:
             channel = discord.utils.get(guild.channels, name=channel_name)