diff --git a/lib/ruboty/github/actions/close_issue.rb b/lib/ruboty/github/actions/close_issue.rb
index 23a2f48..34c8a68 100644
--- a/lib/ruboty/github/actions/close_issue.rb
+++ b/lib/ruboty/github/actions/close_issue.rb
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ def call
         rescue Octokit::NotFound
           message.reply('Could not find that issue')
         rescue StandardError => e
-          raise e
           message.reply("Failed by #{e.class}")
+          raise e
         end
 
         private
diff --git a/lib/ruboty/handlers/github.rb b/lib/ruboty/handlers/github.rb
index 9100f60..e16a286 100644
--- a/lib/ruboty/handlers/github.rb
+++ b/lib/ruboty/handlers/github.rb
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class Github < Base
       )
 
       on(
-        /merge #{ISSUE_PATTERN}\z/o,
+        /merge\s+#{ISSUE_PATTERN}\z/o,
         name: 'merge_pull_request',
         description: 'Merge pull request'
       )