diff --git a/telethon/events/__init__.py b/telethon/events/__init__.py
index 2da686fa..5966a120 100644
--- a/telethon/events/__init__.py
+++ b/telethon/events/__init__.py
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ class NewMessage(_EventBuilder):
             return
 
         if self.pattern:
-            match = self.pattern(event.text or '')
+            match = self.pattern(event.message.message or '')
             if not match:
                 return
             event.pattern_match = match