diff --git a/pkgs/mx-sanebot/src/main.rs b/pkgs/mx-sanebot/src/main.rs
index e7ae9d2d..5afffdf8 100644
--- a/pkgs/mx-sanebot/src/main.rs
+++ b/pkgs/mx-sanebot/src/main.rs
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ enum Event {
 #[derive(Debug)]
 enum Action {
     AcceptInvite(OwnedRoomId),
-    SendMessage(OwnedRoomId, String),
+    SendMessage(OwnedRoomId, String /* text */, Option<String> /* html */),
 }
 
 impl Runner {
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ impl Runner {
             Event::Invitation(room_id) => Action::AcceptInvite(room_id),
             Event::Message(room_id, _sender_id, body) => {
                 let resp = MessageHandler.on_msg(&body);
-                Action::SendMessage(room_id, resp)
+                Action::SendMessage(room_id, resp.to_string(), resp.html())
             }
         }
     }
@@ -221,10 +221,13 @@ impl Runner {
                     println!("Successfully joined room {}", room.room_id());
                 });
             }
-            Action::SendMessage(room_id, msg) => {
+            Action::SendMessage(room_id, text, html) => {
 
                 let room = self.client.get_joined_room(&room_id).unwrap();
-                let resp_content = RoomMessageEventContent::text_plain(&msg);
+                let resp_content = match html {
+                    None => RoomMessageEventContent::text_plain(&text),
+                    Some(html) => RoomMessageEventContent::text_html(&text, &html),
+                };
                 room.send(resp_content, None).await.unwrap();
             }
         }
diff --git a/pkgs/mx-sanebot/src/msg_handler.rs b/pkgs/mx-sanebot/src/msg_handler.rs
index c2a3b124..22cb93f2 100644
--- a/pkgs/mx-sanebot/src/msg_handler.rs
+++ b/pkgs/mx-sanebot/src/msg_handler.rs
@@ -151,10 +151,9 @@ impl MessageHandler {
     /// parse any message directed to me, and return text to present to the user who messaged me.
     /// the message passed here may or may not be a "valid" request.
     /// if invalid, expect an error message or help message, still meant for the user.
-    pub fn on_msg(&self, msg: &str) -> String {
+    pub fn on_msg(&self, msg: &str) -> Response {
         let req = self.parse_msg(msg).unwrap_or(Request::Help);
-        let resp = req.evaluate();
-        resp.to_string()
+        req.evaluate()
     }
 
     fn parse_msg(&self, msg: &str) -> Result<Request, ()> {
@@ -214,12 +213,31 @@ impl Request {
     }
 }
 
-enum Response {
+pub enum Response {
     Help,
     Bt(String),
     BtSearch(String),
 }
 
+impl Response {
+    pub fn html(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        match self {
+            Response::Help => Some(
+                r#"
+                commands:
+                <ul>
+                    <li><code>!help</code> => show this message</li>
+                    <li><code>!bt</code> => show torrent statuses</li>
+                    <li><code>!bt search &lt;phrase&gt;</code> => search for torrents</li>
+                </ul>
+                "#.to_owned()
+            ),
+            // not yet implemented
+            _ => None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl fmt::Display for Response {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
         match self {
@@ -235,3 +253,4 @@ impl fmt::Display for Response {
         Ok(())
     }
 }
+