diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 89c0cef..5e19ce0 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -126,20 +126,29 @@ var handlers = {
         var url = request.url;
         var state = request.state;
 
-        var assignee_id = request.assignee_id;
+        if (typeof mergeRequests[id] === 'undefined') {
+            mergeRequests[id] = {
+                state: state
+            };
 
-        mergeRequests[id] = mergeRequests[id] || {};
-        var formerAssignee_id = mergeRequests[id].assignee_id;
+            // Stay silent if the merge request state is open and we didn't
+            // know it before.
+            if (state === "opened") {
+                return;
+            }
+        } else {
+            var formerState = mergeRequests[id].state;
+            mergeRequests[id].state = state;
 
-        mergeRequests[id].assignee_id = assignee_id;
-
-        // Abort if just the assignee changed;
-        if (typeof formerAssignee_id !== 'undefined' && assignee_id !== formerAssignee_id)
-            return;
+            // Abort if the state hasn't changed.
+            if (state === formerState) {
+                return;
+            }
+        }
 
         shortenURL(url, function(shortUrl) {
-            var msg = projectName + ': merge request (' + from + '->' + to + ': ' + title + ') ' +
-                      '#' + id + ' changed state ("' + state + '"): ' + shortUrl;
+            var msg = projectName + ': MR# ' + id + ' (' + from + '->' + to + ': ' + title + ') ' +
+                      ' has been ' + state + '; ' + shortUrl;
             say(msg);
         });
     },