diff --git a/bots/tipbot.js b/bots/tipbot.js
index 4444a12..55b3785 100644
--- a/bots/tipbot.js
+++ b/bots/tipbot.js
@@ -41,12 +41,16 @@ function respond(bot, data) {
     return;
   }
 
-  if ((!tipper.is_admin || !tipper.is_owner) && channel.name !== "bot-sandbox" ){
-	bot.postMessage(channel, 'Please help keep the channel clean: use #bot-sandbox', globalSlackParams); 
-	return;	
-  }
-  
   var subcommand = words.length >= 2 ? words[1] : 'help';
+  var isAllowedTip = false;
+  if ((!tipper.is_admin || !tipper.is_owner) && channel.name !== 'bot-sandbox' ){
+	//to check if the command is a tip (hence allowed to pass through) we need to check against all the other commands)
+	if (subcommand === 'help' || subcommand === 'balance' || subcommand === 'deposit' || subcommand === 'withdraw'){
+		bot.postMessage(channel, 'Please help keep the channel clean: use #bot-sandbox', globalSlackParams); 
+		return;	
+	}
+	isAllowedTip = true;
+  }
 
   if (subcommand === 'help') {
     doHelp(bot, channel);
@@ -61,7 +65,7 @@ function respond(bot, data) {
     doWithdraw(bot, channel, tipper, words);
   }
   else {
-    doTip(bot, channel, tipper, words);
+    doTip(bot, channel, tipper, words, isAllowedTip);
   }
 }
 
@@ -116,9 +120,11 @@ function doWithdraw(bot, channel, tipper, words) {
 }
 
 
-function doTip(bot, channel, tipper, words) {
+function doTip(bot, channel, tipper, words, isAllowedTip) {
   if (words.length < 3) {
-    doHelp(bot, channel);
+	//necessary to avoid the help menu opening up on all channels
+	if (!isAllowedTip)
+		doHelp(bot, channel);
     return;
   }