diff --git a/application/src/main/java/org/togetherjava/tjbot/commands/tophelper/TopHelpersMessageListener.java b/application/src/main/java/org/togetherjava/tjbot/commands/tophelper/TopHelpersMessageListener.java
index 58603474cd..52815bbdb6 100644
--- a/application/src/main/java/org/togetherjava/tjbot/commands/tophelper/TopHelpersMessageListener.java
+++ b/application/src/main/java/org/togetherjava/tjbot/commands/tophelper/TopHelpersMessageListener.java
@@ -18,6 +18,14 @@
  * {@link TopHelpersCommand} to pick them up.
  */
 public final class TopHelpersMessageListener extends MessageReceiverAdapter {
+    /**
+     * Matches invisible control characters and unused code points
+     * 
+     * @see <a href="https://www.regular-expressions.info/unicode.html#category">Unicode
+     *      Categories</a>
+     */
+    private static final String UNCOUNTED_CHARS = "\\P{C}";
+
     private final Database database;
 
     private final Predicate<String> isStagingChannelName;
@@ -65,13 +73,16 @@ private boolean isHelpThread(MessageReceivedEvent event) {
     }
 
     private void addMessageRecord(MessageReceivedEvent event) {
+        String messageContent = event.getMessage().getContentRaw();
+        long messageLength = messageContent.replaceAll(UNCOUNTED_CHARS, "").length();
+
         database.write(context -> context.newRecord(HELP_CHANNEL_MESSAGES)
             .setMessageId(event.getMessage().getIdLong())
             .setGuildId(event.getGuild().getIdLong())
             .setChannelId(event.getChannel().getIdLong())
             .setAuthorId(event.getAuthor().getIdLong())
             .setSentAt(event.getMessage().getTimeCreated().toInstant())
-            .setMessageLength((long) event.getMessage().getContentRaw().length())
+            .setMessageLength(messageLength)
             .insert());
     }
 }