diff --git a/lib/ponder/irc.rb b/lib/ponder/irc.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/ponder/irc.rb
+++ b/lib/ponder/irc.rb
@@ -12,9 +12,10 @@ module Ponder
       raw "PRIVMSG #{recipient} :#{message}"
     end
     
+    # register when connected
     def register
       raw "NICK #{@config.nick}"
-      raw "USER #{@config.nick} 0 * :#{@config.realname}"
+      raw "USER #{@config.username} * * :#{@config.real_name}"
       raw "PASS #{@config.password}" if @config.password
     end
     
diff --git a/lib/ponder/thaum.rb b/lib/ponder/thaum.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/ponder/thaum.rb
+++ b/lib/ponder/thaum.rb
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ module Ponder
       @config = OpenStruct.new(:server             => 'localhost',
                                :port               => 6667,
                                :nick               => 'Ponder',
-                               :realname           => 'Ponder',
+                               :username           => 'Ponder',
+                               :real_name          => 'Ponder',
                                :verbose            => true,
                                :logging            => false,
                                :reconnect          => true,
added the functionality of chosing an username