diff --git a/sopel_modules/SpiceBot_AI/AI_aiml.py b/sopel_modules/SpiceBot_AI/AI_aiml.py
index 76b4892..278b96d 100644
--- a/sopel_modules/SpiceBot_AI/AI_aiml.py
+++ b/sopel_modules/SpiceBot_AI/AI_aiml.py
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ def bot_command_rule(bot, trigger):
 
     message = trigger.args[1]
 
+    if is_ascii(message):
+        return
+
     # ignore text coming from a valid prefix
     if str(message).startswith(tuple(bot.config.core.prefix_list)):
         trigger_args, trigger_command = SpiceBot.prerun.trigger_args(message, 'module')