diff --git a/earwigbot/irc/connection.py b/earwigbot/irc/connection.py
index 75d6399..740292f 100644
--- a/earwigbot/irc/connection.py
+++ b/earwigbot/irc/connection.py
@@ -89,6 +89,12 @@ class IRCConnection(object):
         else:
             self._send("QUIT")
 
+    def _process_defaults(self, line):
+        """Default process hooks for lines received on IRC."""
+        self._last_recv = time()
+        if line[0] == "PING":  # If we are pinged, pong back
+            self.pong(line[1])
+
     @property
     def host(self):
         """The hostname of the IRC server, like ``"irc.freenode.net"``."""
@@ -175,10 +181,11 @@ class IRCConnection(object):
                 self._is_running = False
                 break
 
-            self._last_recv = time()
             lines = read_buffer.split("\n")
             read_buffer = lines.pop()
             for line in lines:
+                line = line.strip().split()
+                self._process_defaults(line)
                 self._process_message(line)
             if self.is_stopped():
                 break
@@ -190,9 +197,12 @@ class IRCConnection(object):
         now = time()
         if now - self._last_recv > 60:
             if self._last_ping < self._last_recv:
+                log = "Last message was received over 60 seconds ago. Pinging."
+                self.logger.debug(log)
                 self.ping(self.host)
                 self._last_ping = now
             elif now - self._last_ping > 60:
+                self.logger.debug("No ping response in 60 seconds. Stopping.")
                 self.stop()
 
     def stop(self, msg=None):
diff --git a/earwigbot/irc/frontend.py b/earwigbot/irc/frontend.py
index a301c18..cda2670 100644
--- a/earwigbot/irc/frontend.py
+++ b/earwigbot/irc/frontend.py
@@ -49,8 +49,6 @@ class Frontend(IRCConnection):
 
     def _process_message(self, line):
         """Process a single message from IRC."""
-        line = line.strip().split()
-
         if line[1] == "JOIN":
             data = Data(self.bot, self.nick, line, msgtype="JOIN")
             self.bot.commands.call("join", data)
@@ -63,9 +61,6 @@ class Frontend(IRCConnection):
                 self.bot.commands.call("msg_public", data)
             self.bot.commands.call("msg", data)
 
-        elif line[0] == "PING":  # If we are pinged, pong back
-            self.pong(line[1])
-
         elif line[1] == "376":  # On successful connection to the server
             # If we're supposed to auth to NickServ, do that:
             try:
diff --git a/earwigbot/irc/watcher.py b/earwigbot/irc/watcher.py
index 8303457..d333e52 100644
--- a/earwigbot/irc/watcher.py
+++ b/earwigbot/irc/watcher.py
@@ -50,8 +50,6 @@ class Watcher(IRCConnection):
 
     def _process_message(self, line):
         """Process a single message from IRC."""
-        line = line.strip().split()
-
         if line[1] == "PRIVMSG":
             chan = line[2]
 
@@ -65,10 +63,6 @@ class Watcher(IRCConnection):
             rc.parse()  # Parse a message into pagenames, usernames, etc.
             self._process_rc_event(rc)
 
-        # If we are pinged, pong back:
-        elif line[0] == "PING":
-            self.pong(line[1])
-
         # When we've finished starting up, join all watcher channels:
         elif line[1] == "376":
             for chan in self.bot.config.irc["watcher"]["channels"]: