diff --git a/core/message.js b/core/message.js
index 82536349..ff13a84a 100644
--- a/core/message.js
+++ b/core/message.js
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ function Message(options) {
 	};
 
 	this.isPrivate = function() {
-		return this.areaTag === Message.WellKnownAreaTags.Private ? true : false;
+		return Message.isPrivateAreaTag(this.areaTag);
 	};
 
 	this.getMessageTimestampString = function(ts) {
@@ -77,6 +77,10 @@ Message.WellKnownAreaTags = {
 	Bulletin	: 'local_bulletin',
 };
 
+Message.isPrivateAreaTag = function(areaTag) {
+	return areaTag.toLowerCase() === Message.WellKnownAreaTags.Private;
+};
+
 Message.SystemMetaNames = {
 	LocalToUserID			: 'local_to_user_id',
 	LocalFromUserID			: 'local_from_user_id',