diff --git a/src/ircmsgs.py b/src/ircmsgs.py
index 1df56cba5..ce70f2286 100644
--- a/src/ircmsgs.py
+++ b/src/ircmsgs.py
@@ -337,7 +337,10 @@ def nick():
 ###
 
 isNick = ircutils.isNick
+areNicks = ircutils.areNicks
 isChannel = ircutils.isChannel
+areChannels = ircutils.areChannels
+areReceivers = ircutils.areReceivers
 isUserHostmask = ircutils.isUserHostmask
 
 def pong(payload, prefix='', msg=None):
@@ -545,12 +548,14 @@ def kick(channel, nick, s='', prefix='', msg=None):
         return IrcMsg(prefix=prefix, command='KICK',
                       args=(channel, nick), msg=msg)
 
-def kicks(channel, nicks, s='', prefix='', msg=None):
+def kicks(channels, nicks, s='', prefix='', msg=None):
     """Returns a KICK to kick each of nicks from channel with the message msg.
     """
+    if isinstance(channels, str): # Backward compatibility
+        channels = [channels]
     if conf.supybot.protocols.irc.strictRfc():
-        assert isChannel(channel), repr(channel)
-        assert all(isNick, nicks), nicks
+        assert areChannels(channels), repr(channel)
+        assert areNicks(nicks), repr(nicks)
     if msg and not prefix:
         prefix = msg.prefix
     if sys.version_info[0] < 3 and isinstance(s, unicode):
@@ -566,7 +571,7 @@ def kicks(channel, nicks, s='', prefix='', msg=None):
 def privmsg(recipient, s, prefix='', msg=None):
     """Returns a PRIVMSG to recipient with the message msg."""
     if conf.supybot.protocols.irc.strictRfc():
-        assert (isChannel(recipient) or isNick(recipient)), repr(recipient)
+        assert (areReceivers(recipient)), repr(recipient)
         assert s, 's must not be empty.'
     if sys.version_info[0] < 3 and isinstance(s, unicode):
         s = s.encode('utf8')
@@ -598,7 +603,7 @@ def action(recipient, s, prefix='', msg=None):
 def notice(recipient, s, prefix='', msg=None):
     """Returns a NOTICE to recipient with the message msg."""
     if conf.supybot.protocols.irc.strictRfc():
-        assert (isChannel(recipient) or isNick(recipient)), repr(recipient)
+        assert areReceivers(recipient), repr(recipient)
         assert s, 'msg must not be empty.'
     if sys.version_info[0] < 3 and isinstance(s, unicode):
         s = s.encode('utf8')
@@ -735,7 +740,7 @@ def who(hostmaskOrChannel, prefix='', msg=None):
 def whois(nick, mask='', prefix='', msg=None):
     """Returns a WHOIS for nick."""
     if conf.supybot.protocols.irc.strictRfc():
-        assert isNick(nick), repr(nick)
+        assert areNicks(nick), repr(nick)
     if msg and not prefix:
         prefix = msg.prefix
     args = (nick,)
@@ -745,7 +750,7 @@ def whois(nick, mask='', prefix='', msg=None):
 
 def names(channel=None, prefix='', msg=None):
     if conf.supybot.protocols.irc.strictRfc():
-        assert isChannel(channel)
+        assert areChannels(channel)
     if msg and not prefix:
         prefix = msg.prefix
     if channel is not None:
diff --git a/src/ircutils.py b/src/ircutils.py
index abb6f69f0..d9b916819 100644
--- a/src/ircutils.py
+++ b/src/ircutils.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 import random
 import string
 import textwrap
+import functools
 from cStringIO import StringIO as sio
 
 import supybot.utils as utils
@@ -132,6 +133,11 @@ def isNick(s, strictRfc=True, nicklen=None):
                not isUserHostmask(s) and \
                not ' ' in s and not '!' in s
 
+def areNicks(s, strictRfc=True, nicklen=None):
+    """Like 'isNick(x)' but for comma-separated list."""
+    nick = functools.partial(isNick, strictRfc=strictRfc, nicklen=nicklen)
+    return all(map(nick, s.split(',')))
+
 def isChannel(s, chantypes='#&+!', channellen=50):
     """s => bool
     Returns True if s is a valid IRC channel name."""
@@ -142,6 +148,20 @@ def isChannel(s, chantypes='#&+!', channellen=50):
            len(s) <= channellen and \
            len(s.split(None, 1)) == 1
 
+def areChannels(s, chantypes='#&+!',channellen=50):
+    """Like 'isChannel(x)' but for comma-separated list."""
+    chan = functools.partial(isChannel, chantypes=chantypes,
+            channellen=channellen)
+    return all(map(chan, s.split(',')))
+
+def areReceivers(s, strictRfc=True, nicklen=None, chantypes='#&+!',
+        channellen=50):
+    """Like 'isNick(x) or isChannel(x)' but for comma-separated list."""
+    nick = functools.partial(isNick, strictRfc=strictRfc, nicklen=nicklen)
+    chan = functools.partial(isChannel, chantypes=chantypes,
+            channellen=channellen)
+    return all(map(lambda x:nick(x) or chan(x), s.split(',')))
+
 _patternCache = utils.structures.CacheDict(1000)
 def _hostmaskPatternEqual(pattern, hostmask):
     try:
diff --git a/test/test_ircmsgs.py b/test/test_ircmsgs.py
index a2b645a6a..832c33bdf 100644
--- a/test/test_ircmsgs.py
+++ b/test/test_ircmsgs.py
@@ -161,6 +161,18 @@ def testUnAction(self):
         msg = ircmsgs.action('#foo', s)
         self.assertEqual(ircmsgs.unAction(msg), s)
 
+    def testPrivmsg(self):
+        self.assertEqual(str(ircmsgs.privmsg('foo', 'bar')),
+                'PRIVMSG foo :bar\r\n')
+        self.assertEqual(str(ircmsgs.privmsg('foo,bar', 'baz')),
+                'PRIVMSG foo,bar :baz\r\n')
+
+    def testWhois(self):
+        self.assertEqual(str(ircmsgs.whois('foo')), 'WHOIS :foo\r\n')
+        self.assertEqual(str(ircmsgs.whois('foo,bar')), 'WHOIS :foo,bar\r\n')
+        self.assertRaises(AssertionError, ircmsgs.whois, '#foo')
+        self.assertRaises(AssertionError, ircmsgs.whois, 'foo,#foo')
+
     def testBan(self):
         channel = '#osu'
         ban = '*!*@*.edu'