diff --git a/nomen/main.py b/nomen/main.py
index 76f811c..6dd13a7 100644
--- a/nomen/main.py
+++ b/nomen/main.py
@@ -209,10 +209,10 @@ async def on_message(message: Message):
             return
 
     c = message.content.lower().split(" ")
-    prefix = await bot.get_guild_prefix(ctx.guild) or "@nomen "
 
     if "help" in c and "nomen" in c:
         help_timeouts[ctx.channel.id] = now + datetime.timedelta(minutes=5)
+        prefix = (await bot.get_guild_prefix(ctx.guild) if ctx.guild else DEFAULT_PREFIX) or "@nomen "
         await message.reply(f"""\
 Heya!