diff --git a/cmd/sojuboy/main.go b/cmd/sojuboy/main.go
index 2bda330..66eb654 100644
--- a/cmd/sojuboy/main.go
+++ b/cmd/sojuboy/main.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"syscall"
@@ -136,8 +137,15 @@ func main() {
 	}
 	alert := func(channel, author, text, msgid string, at time.Time) {
 		logger.Debug("ingest", "ts", at.UTC(), "channel", channel, "author", author, "body", text, "msgid", msgid)
+		// Determine storage channel: for DMs to me, store under sender nick
+		storeChan := channel
+		isChannel := strings.HasPrefix(channel, "#") || strings.HasPrefix(channel, "&")
+		isDMToMe := !isChannel && strings.EqualFold(channel, cfg.Nick)
+		if isDMToMe {
+			storeChan = author
+		}
 		if err := st.InsertMessage(ctx, store.Message{
-			Channel: channel,
+			Channel: storeChan,
 			Author:  author,
 			Body:    text,
 			Time:    at.UTC(),
@@ -147,26 +155,52 @@ func main() {
 		} else {
 			atomic.AddInt64(&metrics.MessagesIngested, 1)
 		}
-		if mentionChecker(text) && allowedChannel(channel) {
+		// Notify on direct messages to me (bypass channel allow/deny; respect quiet hours)
+		if isDMToMe && !strings.EqualFold(author, cfg.Nick) {
 			if nt != nil {
 				if !cfg.NotifyBackfill && time.Since(at) > 5*time.Minute {
-					logger.Debug("mention suppressed", "reason", "backfill", "channel", channel, "author", author)
+					logger.Debug("dm suppressed", "reason", "backfill", "from", author)
 					return
 				}
 				if config.WithinQuietHours(at, cfg.QuietHours) && !isUrgent(text) {
-					logger.Debug("mention suppressed", "reason", "quiet_hours", "channel", channel, "author", author)
+					logger.Debug("dm suppressed", "reason", "quiet_hours", "from", author)
 					return
 				}
-				key := channel + "|" + cfg.Nick
+				key := "dm|" + author
 				if !rl.allow(key, cfg.MentionMinInterval) {
-					logger.Debug("mention suppressed", "reason", "rate_limit", "channel", channel, "author", author)
+					logger.Debug("dm suppressed", "reason", "rate_limit", "from", author)
 					return
 				}
-				if err := nt.Notify(ctx, "IRC mention in "+channel, author+": "+text); err != nil {
+				if err := nt.Notify(ctx, "Direct message from "+author, text); err != nil {
+					logger.Error("dm notify", "err", err)
+				} else {
+					atomic.AddInt64(&metrics.NotificationsSent, 1)
+					logger.Debug("dm notified", "from", author)
+				}
+			}
+			return
+		}
+		// Mentions in channels
+		if mentionChecker(text) && allowedChannel(storeChan) {
+			if nt != nil {
+				if !cfg.NotifyBackfill && time.Since(at) > 5*time.Minute {
+					logger.Debug("mention suppressed", "reason", "backfill", "channel", storeChan, "author", author)
+					return
+				}
+				if config.WithinQuietHours(at, cfg.QuietHours) && !isUrgent(text) {
+					logger.Debug("mention suppressed", "reason", "quiet_hours", "channel", storeChan, "author", author)
+					return
+				}
+				key := storeChan + "|" + cfg.Nick
+				if !rl.allow(key, cfg.MentionMinInterval) {
+					logger.Debug("mention suppressed", "reason", "rate_limit", "channel", storeChan, "author", author)
+					return
+				}
+				if err := nt.Notify(ctx, "IRC mention in "+storeChan, author+": "+text); err != nil {
 					logger.Error("mention notify", "err", err)
 				} else {
 					atomic.AddInt64(&metrics.NotificationsSent, 1)
-					logger.Debug("mention notified", "channel", channel, "author", author)
+					logger.Debug("mention notified", "channel", storeChan, "author", author)
 				}
 			}
 		}