diff --git a/plugins/duckhunt.go b/plugins/duckhunt.go
index b1b7904..55b0f4e 100644
--- a/plugins/duckhunt.go
+++ b/plugins/duckhunt.go
@@ -1721,7 +1721,7 @@ func xpToNextLevel(xp int64) int64 {
 
 func duckName(state *duckHuntState) string {
 	if state != nil && state.golden {
-		return ircColor(ircYellow, "the GOLDEN DUCK")
+		return "the " + ircColor(ircYellow, "GOLDEN DUCK")
 	}
 	if state != nil && state.flockRemaining > 1 {
 		return ircColor(ircCyan, "a duck in the flock")
diff --git a/plugins/duckhunt_test.go b/plugins/duckhunt_test.go
index f0d0937..bd76d82 100644
--- a/plugins/duckhunt_test.go
+++ b/plugins/duckhunt_test.go
@@ -307,6 +307,17 @@ func TestDuckHuntAnnouncementKeepsDuckASCIICompact(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestDuckHuntGoldenDuckColorStartsAtLabel(t *testing.T) {
+	got := duckName(&duckHuntState{golden: true})
+	want := "the " + ircColor(ircYellow, "GOLDEN DUCK")
+	if got != want {
+		t.Fatalf("golden duck name = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(got, ircYellow) {
+		t.Fatal("the article must not be yellow")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestDuckHuntSchedulesAfterActivityThreshold(t *testing.T) {
 	plugin := &DuckHunt{}
 	if err := plugin.Init(bot.PluginConfig{