diff --git a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/protocol/irc/IrcStack.java b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/protocol/irc/IrcStack.java
index 258b36971..8c8e5756f 100644
--- a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/protocol/irc/IrcStack.java
+++ b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/protocol/irc/IrcStack.java
@@ -1167,6 +1167,23 @@ private static ChatRoomMemberRole convertMemberMode(final char modeSymbol)
     private final class ServerListener
         extends VariousMessageListenerAdapter
     {
+        /**
+         * IRC reply code for automatic reply containing away message.
+         */
+        private static final int RPL_AWAY = 301;
+
+        /**
+         * IRC error code for case of non-existing nick or channel name.
+         */
+        private static final int ERR_NO_SUCH_NICK_CHANNEL =
+            IRCServerNumerics.NO_SUCH_NICK_CHANNEL;
+
+        /**
+         * IRC reply code for end of list.
+         */
+        private static final int RPL_LISTEND =
+            IRCServerNumerics.CHANNEL_NICKS_END_OF_LIST;
+
         /**
          * IRCApi instance.
          */
@@ -1229,13 +1246,13 @@ public void onServerNumericMessage(final ServerNumericMessage msg)
 
             switch (code.intValue())
             {
-            case IRCServerNumerics.CHANNEL_NICKS_END_OF_LIST:
-                // CHANNEL_NICKS_END_OF_LIST indicates the end of a nick list as
-                // you will receive when joining a channel. This is used as the
-                // indicator that we have joined a channel. Now we have to
-                // determine whether or not we already know about this
-                // particular join attempt. If not, we continue to inform Jitsi
-                // and to create a listener for this new chat room.
+            case RPL_LISTEND:
+                // This indicates the end of a nick list as you will receive
+                // when joining a channel. This is used as the indicator that we
+                // have joined a channel. Now we have to determine whether or
+                // not we already know about this particular join attempt. If
+                // not, we continue to inform Jitsi and to create a listener
+                // for this new chat room.
                 final String text = msg.getText();
                 final String channelName = text.substring(0, text.indexOf(' '));
                 final ChatRoomIrcImpl chatRoom;
@@ -1285,7 +1302,7 @@ public void onServerNumericMessage(final ServerNumericMessage msg)
                     + "' completed.");
                 break;
 
-            case IRCServerNumerics.NO_SUCH_NICK_CHANNEL:
+            case ERR_NO_SUCH_NICK_CHANNEL:
                 // TODO Check if target is Contact, then update contact presence
                 // status to off-line since the nick apparently does not exist
                 // anymore.
@@ -1325,6 +1342,21 @@ public void onServerNumericMessage(final ServerNumericMessage msg)
                             .OFFLINE_MESSAGES_NOT_SUPPORTED);
                 break;
 
+            case RPL_AWAY:
+                final String rawAwayText = msg.getText();
+                final String awayUserNick =
+                    rawAwayText.substring(0, rawAwayText.indexOf(' '));
+                final String awayText =
+                    rawAwayText.substring(rawAwayText.indexOf(' ') + 2);
+                final MessageIrcImpl awayMessage =
+                    MessageIrcImpl.newAwayMessageFromIRC(awayText);
+                final Contact awayUser =
+                    IrcStack.this.provider.getPersistentPresence()
+                        .findOrCreateContactByID(awayUserNick);
+                IrcStack.this.provider.getBasicInstantMessaging()
+                    .fireMessageReceived(awayMessage, awayUser);
+                break;
+
             default:
                 if (LOGGER.isTraceEnabled())
                 {
diff --git a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/protocol/irc/MessageIrcImpl.java b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/protocol/irc/MessageIrcImpl.java
index e77298e71..90a70ffc9 100644
--- a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/protocol/irc/MessageIrcImpl.java
+++ b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/protocol/irc/MessageIrcImpl.java
@@ -144,6 +144,20 @@ private static MessageIrcImpl newActionFromIRC(final String user,
             null);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Construct the new away message.
+     *
+     * @param message the IRC away message
+     * @return returns a new message instance
+     */
+    public static MessageIrcImpl newAwayMessageFromIRC(final String message)
+    {
+        String text = Utils.parseIrcMessage(message);
+        text = Utils.styleAsAwayMessage(text);
+        return new MessageIrcImpl(text, HTML_MIME_TYPE, DEFAULT_MIME_ENCODING,
+            null);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Creates a message instance according to the specified parameters.
      *
diff --git a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/protocol/irc/Utils.java b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/protocol/irc/Utils.java
index d033947d5..05f86b7c8 100644
--- a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/protocol/irc/Utils.java
+++ b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/protocol/irc/Utils.java
@@ -222,4 +222,15 @@ public static String styleAsAction(final String message, final String user)
     {
         return "<b>*" + user + "</b> " + message;
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Format message as HTML-formatted away message.
+     *
+     * @param text away message
+     * @return returns HTML-formatted message
+     */
+    public static String styleAsAwayMessage(final String text)
+    {
+        return "<i>Away: " + text + "</i>";
+    }
 }