diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/__init__.py b/earwigbot/commands/__init__.py
index da152cb..e97d2b9 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/__init__.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/__init__.py
@@ -126,8 +126,8 @@ class CommandManager(object):
 
     def load(self):
         """Load (or reload) all valid commands into self._commands."""
-        self._commands = {}
         with self._command_access_lock:
+            self._commands.clear()
             dirs = [path.join(path.dirname(__file__), "commands"),
                     path.join(bot.config.root_dir, "commands")]
             for dir in dirs:
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/restart.py b/earwigbot/commands/restart.py
index 4902551..7456e4b 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/restart.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/restart.py
@@ -38,9 +38,10 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             return
 
         if data.command == "restart":
-            self.connection.logger.info("Restarting bot per owner request")
-            self.connection.bot.restart()
+            self.logger.info("Restarting bot per owner request")
+            self.bot.restart()
 
         elif data.command == "reload":
-            self.connection.bot.commands.load()
-            self.connection.logger.info("IRC commands reloaded")
+            self.logger.info("Reloading IRC commands")
+            self.bot.commands.load()
+            self.connection.reply("IRC commands reloaded.")