diff --git a/ircbot/src/bin/gateway.rs b/ircbot/src/bin/gateway.rs
index 8e10135..18fef10 100644
--- a/ircbot/src/bin/gateway.rs
+++ b/ircbot/src/bin/gateway.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ struct MessageToIRC {
     target: String,
     body: String,
     #[serde(default = "default_irc_message_type")]
-    message_type: String
+    message_type: IRCMessageType
 }
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
@@ -42,8 +42,15 @@ struct MessageFromIRC {
     body: String
 }
 
-fn default_irc_message_type() -> String {
-    "privmsg".to_string()
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "lowercase")]
+enum IRCMessageType {
+    Privmsg,
+    Notice
+}
+
+fn default_irc_message_type() -> IRCMessageType {
+    IRCMessageType::Privmsg
 }
 
 fn main() {
@@ -87,11 +94,13 @@ fn main() {
             move |_channel: &mut Channel, _deliver: Deliver, _headers: BasicProperties, body: Vec<u8>| {
                 let msg: Result<MessageToIRC, serde_json::Error> = serde_json::from_slice(&body);
                 if let Ok(msg) = msg {
-                    if &msg.message_type == "notice" {
-                        server.send_notice(&msg.target, &msg.body).unwrap();
-                    }
-                    else {
-                        server.send_privmsg(&msg.target, &msg.body).unwrap();
+                    match msg.message_type {
+                        IRCMessageType::Notice => {
+                                server.send_notice(&msg.target, &msg.body).unwrap();
+                        }
+                        IRCMessageType::Privmsg => {
+                                server.send_privmsg(&msg.target, &msg.body).unwrap();
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             },