diff --git a/src/conversation_textview.py b/src/conversation_textview.py
index d82020fc4..788ce9f71 100644
--- a/src/conversation_textview.py
+++ b/src/conversation_textview.py
@@ -464,11 +464,11 @@ class ConversationTextview(gtk.TextView):
 			use_other_tags = False
 		elif special_text.startswith('*'): # it's a bold text
 			tags.append('bold')
-			if special_text[1] == '/': # it's also italic
+			if special_text[1] == '/' and special_text[-2] == '/' and len(special_text) > 4: # it's also italic
 				tags.append('italic')
 				if not show_ascii_formatting_chars:
 					special_text = special_text[2:-2] # remove */ /*
-			elif special_text[1] == '_': # it's also underlined
+			elif special_text[1] == '_' and special_text[-2] == '_' and len(special_text) > 4: # it's also underlined
 				tags.append('underline')
 				if not show_ascii_formatting_chars:
 					special_text = special_text[2:-2] # remove *_ _*
@@ -477,11 +477,11 @@ class ConversationTextview(gtk.TextView):
 					special_text = special_text[1:-1] # remove * *
 		elif special_text.startswith('/'): # it's an italic text
 			tags.append('italic')
-			if special_text[1] == '*': # it's also bold
+			if special_text[1] == '*' and special_text[-2] == '*' and len(special_text) > 4: # it's also bold
 				tags.append('bold')
 				if not show_ascii_formatting_chars:
 					special_text = special_text[2:-2] # remove /* */
-			elif special_text[1] == '_': # it's also underlined
+			elif special_text[1] == '_' and special_text[-2] == '_' and len(special_text) > 4: # it's also underlined
 				tags.append('underline')
 				if not show_ascii_formatting_chars:
 					special_text = special_text[2:-2] # remove /_ _/
@@ -490,11 +490,11 @@ class ConversationTextview(gtk.TextView):
 					special_text = special_text[1:-1] # remove / /
 		elif special_text.startswith('_'): # it's an underlined text
 			tags.append('underline')
-			if special_text[1] == '*': # it's also bold
+			if special_text[1] == '*' and special_text[-2] == '*' and len(special_text) > 4: # it's also bold
 				tags.append('bold')
 				if not show_ascii_formatting_chars:
 					special_text = special_text[2:-2] # remove _* *_
-			elif special_text[1] == '/': # it's also italic
+			elif special_text[1] == '/' and special_text[-2] == '/' and len(special_text) > 4: # it's also italic
 				tags.append('italic')
 				if not show_ascii_formatting_chars:
 					special_text = special_text[2:-2] # remove _/ /_