diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.java
index e75dbab89..eff701d79 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.java
@@ -758,7 +758,7 @@ public class ChatDirector extends BasicDirector
 
         // if there was an originating speaker, see if we want to hear it
         if (speaker != null) {
-            if ((msg.message = filter(msg.message, speaker, false)) == null) {
+            if (shouldFilter(msg) && (msg.message = filter(msg.message, speaker, false)) == null) {
                 return;
             }
 
@@ -786,6 +786,14 @@ public class ChatDirector extends BasicDirector
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Checks whether we should filter the supplied incoming message.
+     */
+    protected boolean shouldFilter (ChatMessage msg)
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Dispatch a message to chat displays once it is fully prepared with the clientinfo.
      */