diff --git a/src/engine/db/network.rs b/src/engine/db/network.rs
index d74d3f2..354b9bc 100644
--- a/src/engine/db/network.rs
+++ b/src/engine/db/network.rs
@@ -187,14 +187,18 @@ impl Db {
     /// channel: a `#`/`&` mask tests the channel name, any other tests the user's
     /// identity. The engine tests the result for a given event's letter.
     pub fn notify_flags(&self, target: Option<&echo_api::BanTarget>, chan: Option<&str>) -> String {
-        // A user on the exclude list (e.g. a `*/*` PyLink relay client) is never
-        // matched, so relayed traffic can't flood the staff feed.
-        if let Some(t) = target {
-            if self.notify_exclude.iter().any(|m| {
-                echo_api::akick_matches(m, t) || (!m.contains(['@', '!']) && glob_match(m, t.nick))
-            }) {
-                return String::new();
+        // Exclusions come first, same mask grammar as a watch: a `#channel` mask
+        // mutes events in that channel, any other mask mutes a user (e.g. `*/*` for
+        // PyLink relay clients). A match means the event never reaches the feed.
+        let excluded = self.notify_exclude.iter().any(|m| {
+            if m.starts_with('#') || m.starts_with('&') {
+                chan.is_some_and(|c| glob_match(m, c))
+            } else {
+                target.is_some_and(|t| echo_api::akick_matches(m, t) || (!m.contains(['@', '!']) && glob_match(m, t.nick)))
             }
+        });
+        if excluded {
+            return String::new();
         }
         let now = now();
         let mut flags = String::new();
diff --git a/src/engine/tests.rs b/src/engine/tests.rs
index 89b5cf2..f435c74 100644
--- a/src/engine/tests.rs
+++ b/src/engine/tests.rs
@@ -5384,6 +5384,11 @@ fn notify_flags_match_user_nick_channel_and_expiry() {
     db.set_notify_exclude(vec!["*/*".to_string()]);
     assert!(db.notify_flags(Some(&bt("baddie7/fun", "h.example")), None).is_empty(), "relay client excluded from every watch");
     assert!(db.notify_flags(Some(&bt("baddie7", "h.example")), None).contains('c'), "a normal nick still matches after exclude is set");
+    // A #channel in the exclude list mutes that channel while others still fire —
+    // e.g. watch every channel's joins but skip #staff.
+    db.set_notify_exclude(vec!["#staff".to_string()]);
+    assert!(db.notify_flags(Some(&bt("nice", "h.example")), Some("#staff")).is_empty(), "excluded channel is muted");
+    assert!(db.notify_flags(Some(&bt("nice", "h.example")), Some("#warez7")).contains('j'), "other channels still watched");
     db.set_notify_exclude(vec![]);
     // DEL by mask removes just that one.
     assert!(db.notify_del("baddie*!*@*").unwrap());