diff --git a/activitypub.c b/activitypub.c
index 0d5439d..6127dab 100644
--- a/activitypub.c
+++ b/activitypub.c
@@ -437,7 +437,8 @@ void process_tags(snac *snac, const char *content, d_char **n_content, d_char **
 
 /** messages **/
 
-d_char *msg_base(snac *snac, char *type, char *id, char *actor, char *date, char *object)
+xs_dict *msg_base(snac *snac, const char *type, const char *id,
+                  const char *actor, const char *date, const char *object)
 /* creates a base ActivityPub message */
 {
     xs *did       = NULL;
@@ -467,7 +468,7 @@ d_char *msg_base(snac *snac, char *type, char *id, char *actor, char *date, char
         }
     }
 
-    d_char *msg = xs_dict_new();
+    xs_dict *msg = xs_dict_new();
 
     msg = xs_dict_append(msg, "@context", "https:/" "/www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams");
     msg = xs_dict_append(msg, "type",     type);
@@ -845,6 +846,28 @@ xs_dict *msg_note(snac *snac, const xs_str *content, const xs_val *rcpts,
 }
 
 
+xs_dict *msg_ping(snac *user, const char *rcpt)
+/* creates a Ping message (https://humungus.tedunangst.com/r/honk/v/tip/f/docs/ping.txt) */
+{
+    xs_dict *msg = msg_base(user, "Ping", "@dummy", user->actor, NULL, NULL);
+
+    msg = xs_dict_append(msg, "to", rcpt);
+
+    return msg;
+}
+
+
+xs_dict *msg_pong(snac *user, const char *rcpt, const char *object)
+/* creates a Pong message (https://humungus.tedunangst.com/r/honk/v/tip/f/docs/ping.txt) */
+{
+    xs_dict *msg = msg_base(user, "Pong", "@dummy", user->actor, NULL, object);
+
+    msg = xs_dict_append(msg, "to", rcpt);
+
+    return msg;
+}
+
+
 void notify(snac *snac, xs_str *type, xs_str *utype, xs_str *actor, xs_dict *msg)
 /* notifies the user of relevant events */
 {
@@ -1147,7 +1170,19 @@ int process_input_message(snac *snac, xs_dict *msg, xs_dict *req)
             snac_debug(snac, 1, xs_fmt("ignored 'Delete' for unknown object %s", object));
     }
     else
-        snac_debug(snac, 1, xs_fmt("process_message type '%s' ignored", type));
+    if (strcmp(type, "Pong") == 0) {
+        snac_log(snac, xs_fmt("'Pong' received from %s", actor));
+    }
+    else
+    if (strcmp(type, "Ping") == 0) {
+        snac_log(snac, xs_fmt("'Ping' requested from %s", actor));
+
+        xs *rsp = msg_pong(snac, actor, xs_dict_get(msg, "id"));
+
+        enqueue_output_by_actor(snac, rsp, actor, 0);
+    }
+    else
+        snac_debug(snac, 1, xs_fmt("process_input_message type '%s' ignored", type));
 
     if (do_notify) {
         notify(snac, type, utype, actor, msg);
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 6a0bb74..b8fc97b 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ int usage(void)
     printf("actor {basedir} {uid} {url}      Requests an actor\n");
     printf("note {basedir} {uid} {'text'}    Sends a note to followers\n");
     printf("resetpwd {basedir} {uid}         Resets the password of a user\n");
+    printf("ping {basedir} {uid} {actor}     Pings an actor\n");
 
     return 1;
 }
@@ -228,6 +229,19 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         return 0;
     }
 
+    if (strcmp(cmd, "ping") == 0) {
+        xs *msg = msg_ping(&snac, url);
+
+        enqueue_output_by_actor(&snac, msg, url, 0);
+
+        if (dbglevel) {
+            xs *j = xs_json_dumps_pp(msg, 4);
+            printf("%s\n", msg);
+        }
+
+        return 0;
+    }
+
     if (strcmp(cmd, "request") == 0) {
         int status;
         xs *data = NULL;
diff --git a/snac.h b/snac.h
index 5279453..7d4b8f4 100644
--- a/snac.h
+++ b/snac.h
@@ -203,6 +203,8 @@ d_char *msg_undo(snac *snac, char *object);
 d_char *msg_delete(snac *snac, char *id);
 d_char *msg_actor(snac *snac);
 xs_dict *msg_update(snac *snac, xs_dict *object);
+xs_dict *msg_ping(snac *user, const char *rcpt);
+xs_dict *msg_pong(snac *user, const char *rcpt, const char *object);
 
 int activitypub_request(snac *snac, const char *url, xs_dict **data);
 int actor_request(snac *snac, const char *actor, xs_dict **data);