diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 92bd0173d..d4fec31ff 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -285,6 +285,10 @@ src_mpd_SOURCES = \
 	src/client_process.c \
 	src/client_read.c \
 	src/client_write.c \
+	src/client_message.h \
+	src/client_message.c \
+	src/client_subscribe.h \
+	src/client_subscribe.c \
 	src/server_socket.c \
 	src/listen.c \
 	src/log.c \
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 178250304..9106eb82e 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 ver 0.17 (2011/??/??)
+* protocol:
+  - support client-to-client communication
 * input:
   - cdio_paranoia: new input plugin to play audio CDs
   - curl: enable CURLOPT_NETRC
diff --git a/doc/protocol.xml b/doc/protocol.xml
index a02a94e32..cf4de27c1 100644
--- a/doc/protocol.xml
+++ b/doc/protocol.xml
@@ -204,6 +204,19 @@
                     has been modified.
                 </para>
               </listitem>
+              <listitem>
+                <para>
+                  <returnvalue>subscription</returnvalue>: a client
+                  has subscribed or unsubscribed to a channel
+                </para>
+              </listitem>
+              <listitem>
+                <para>
+                  <returnvalue>message</returnvalue>: a message was
+                  received on a channel this client is subscribed to;
+                  this event is only emitted when the queue is empty
+                </para>
+              </listitem>
             </itemizedlist>
             <para>
               While a client is waiting for <command>idle</command>
@@ -1676,5 +1689,105 @@ suffix: mpc</programlisting>
         </varlistentry>
       </variablelist>
     </section>
+
+    <section>
+      <title>Client to client</title>
+
+      <para>
+        Clients can communicate with each others over "channels".  A
+        channel is created by a client subscribing to it.  More than
+        one client can be subscribed to a channel at a time; all of
+        them will receive the messages which get sent to it.
+      </para>
+
+      <para>
+        Each time a client subscribes or unsubscribes, the global idle
+        event <varname>subscription</varname> is generated.  In
+        conjunction with the <command>channels</command> command, this
+        may be used to auto-detect clients providing additional
+        services.
+      </para>
+
+      <para>
+        A new messages is indicated by the <varname>message</varname>
+        idle event.
+      </para>
+
+      <variablelist>
+        <varlistentry id="command_subscribe">
+          <term>
+            <cmdsynopsis>
+              <command>subscribe</command>
+              <arg choice="req"><replaceable>NAME</replaceable></arg>
+            </cmdsynopsis>
+          </term>
+          <listitem>
+            <para>
+              Subscribe to a channel.  The channel is created if it
+              does not exist already.  The name may consist of
+              alphanumeric ASCII characters plus underscore, dash, dot
+              and colon.
+            </para>
+          </listitem>
+        </varlistentry>
+
+        <varlistentry id="command_unsubscribe">
+          <term>
+            <cmdsynopsis>
+              <command>unsubscribe</command>
+              <arg choice="req"><replaceable>NAME</replaceable></arg>
+            </cmdsynopsis>
+          </term>
+          <listitem>
+            <para>
+              Unsubscribe from a channel.
+            </para>
+          </listitem>
+        </varlistentry>
+
+        <varlistentry id="command_channels">
+          <term>
+            <cmdsynopsis>
+              <command>channels</command>
+            </cmdsynopsis>
+          </term>
+          <listitem>
+            <para>
+              Obtain a list of all channels.  The response is a list
+              of "channel:" lines.
+            </para>
+          </listitem>
+        </varlistentry>
+
+        <varlistentry id="command_readmessages">
+          <term>
+            <cmdsynopsis>
+              <command>readmessages</command>
+            </cmdsynopsis>
+          </term>
+          <listitem>
+            <para>
+              Reads messages for this client.  The response is a list
+              of "channel:" and "message:" lines.
+            </para>
+          </listitem>
+        </varlistentry>
+
+        <varlistentry id="command_sendmessage">
+          <term>
+            <cmdsynopsis>
+              <command>sendmessage</command>
+              <arg choice="req"><replaceable>CHANNEL</replaceable></arg>
+              <arg choice="req"><replaceable>TEXT</replaceable></arg>
+            </cmdsynopsis>
+          </term>
+          <listitem>
+            <para>
+              Send a message to the specified channel.
+            </para>
+          </listitem>
+        </varlistentry>
+      </variablelist>
+    </section>
   </chapter>
 </book>
diff --git a/src/client_internal.h b/src/client_internal.h
index d675ed7c6..ba97e4b8f 100644
--- a/src/client_internal.h
+++ b/src/client_internal.h
@@ -21,11 +21,17 @@
 #define MPD_CLIENT_INTERNAL_H
 
 #include "client.h"
+#include "client_message.h"
 #include "command.h"
 
 #undef G_LOG_DOMAIN
 #define G_LOG_DOMAIN "client"
 
+enum {
+	CLIENT_MAX_SUBSCRIPTIONS = 16,
+	CLIENT_MAX_MESSAGES = 64,
+};
+
 struct deferred_buffer {
 	size_t size;
 	char data[sizeof(long)];
@@ -69,6 +75,28 @@ struct client {
 
 	/** idle flags that the client wants to receive */
 	unsigned idle_subscriptions;
+
+	/**
+	 * A list of channel names this client is subscribed to.
+	 */
+	GSList *subscriptions;
+
+	/**
+	 * The number of subscriptions in #subscriptions.  Used to
+	 * limit the number of subscriptions.
+	 */
+	unsigned num_subscriptions;
+
+	/**
+	 * A list of messages this client has received in reverse
+	 * order (latest first).
+	 */
+	GSList *messages;
+
+	/**
+	 * The number of messages in #messages.
+	 */
+	unsigned num_messages;
 };
 
 extern unsigned int client_max_connections;
diff --git a/src/client_message.c b/src/client_message.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b681b4e7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client_message.c
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2011 The Music Player Daemon Project
+ * http://www.musicpd.org
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#include "client_message.h"
+
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <glib.h>
+
+G_GNUC_PURE
+static bool
+valid_channel_char(const char ch)
+{
+	return g_ascii_isalnum(ch) ||
+		ch == '_' || ch == '-' || ch == '.' || ch == ':';
+}
+
+bool
+client_message_valid_channel_name(const char *name)
+{
+	do {
+		if (!valid_channel_char(*name))
+			return false;
+	} while (*++name != 0);
+
+	return true;
+}
+
+void
+client_message_init_null(struct client_message *msg)
+{
+	assert(msg != NULL);
+
+	msg->channel = NULL;
+	msg->message = NULL;
+}
+
+void
+client_message_init(struct client_message *msg,
+		    const char *channel, const char *message)
+{
+	assert(msg != NULL);
+
+	msg->channel = g_strdup(channel);
+	msg->message = g_strdup(message);
+}
+
+void
+client_message_copy(struct client_message *dest,
+		    const struct client_message *src)
+{
+	assert(dest != NULL);
+	assert(src != NULL);
+	assert(client_message_defined(src));
+
+	client_message_init(dest, src->channel, src->message);
+}
+
+struct client_message *
+client_message_dup(const struct client_message *src)
+{
+	struct client_message *dest = g_slice_new(struct client_message);
+	client_message_copy(dest, src);
+	return dest;
+}
+
+void
+client_message_deinit(struct client_message *msg)
+{
+	assert(msg != NULL);
+
+	g_free(msg->channel);
+	g_free(msg->message);
+}
+
+void
+client_message_free(struct client_message *msg)
+{
+	client_message_deinit(msg);
+	g_slice_free(struct client_message, msg);
+}
diff --git a/src/client_message.h b/src/client_message.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5c7e86c15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client_message.h
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2011 The Music Player Daemon Project
+ * http://www.musicpd.org
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#ifndef MPD_CLIENT_MESSAGE_H
+#define MPD_CLIENT_MESSAGE_H
+
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include <glib.h>
+
+/**
+ * A client-to-client message.
+ */
+struct client_message {
+	char *channel;
+
+	char *message;
+};
+
+G_GNUC_PURE
+bool
+client_message_valid_channel_name(const char *name);
+
+G_GNUC_PURE
+static inline bool
+client_message_defined(const struct client_message *msg)
+{
+	assert(msg != NULL);
+	assert((msg->channel == NULL) == (msg->message == NULL));
+
+	return msg->channel != NULL;
+}
+
+void
+client_message_init_null(struct client_message *msg);
+
+void
+client_message_init(struct client_message *msg,
+		    const char *channel, const char *message);
+
+void
+client_message_copy(struct client_message *dest,
+		    const struct client_message *src);
+
+G_GNUC_MALLOC G_GNUC_PURE
+struct client_message *
+client_message_dup(const struct client_message *src);
+
+void
+client_message_deinit(struct client_message *msg);
+
+void
+client_message_free(struct client_message *msg);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/client_new.c b/src/client_new.c
index ffe7c7ce6..5b2dfde65 100644
--- a/src/client_new.c
+++ b/src/client_new.c
@@ -121,6 +121,10 @@ client_new(struct player_control *player_control,
 
 	client->send_buf_used = 0;
 
+	client->subscriptions = NULL;
+	client->messages = NULL;
+	client->num_messages = 0;
+
 	(void)send(fd, GREETING, sizeof(GREETING) - 1, 0);
 
 	client_list_add(client);
diff --git a/src/client_subscribe.c b/src/client_subscribe.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c65a7ed31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client_subscribe.c
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2011 The Music Player Daemon Project
+ * http://www.musicpd.org
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#include "client_subscribe.h"
+#include "client_internal.h"
+#include "client_idle.h"
+#include "idle.h"
+
+#include <string.h>
+
+G_GNUC_PURE
+static GSList *
+client_find_subscription(const struct client *client, const char *channel)
+{
+	for (GSList *i = client->subscriptions; i != NULL; i = g_slist_next(i))
+		if (strcmp((const char *)i->data, channel) == 0)
+			return i;
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+enum client_subscribe_result
+client_subscribe(struct client *client, const char *channel)
+{
+	assert(client != NULL);
+	assert(channel != NULL);
+
+	if (!client_message_valid_channel_name(channel))
+		return CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_INVALID;
+
+	if (client_find_subscription(client, channel) != NULL)
+		return CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_ALREADY;
+
+	if (client->num_subscriptions >= CLIENT_MAX_SUBSCRIPTIONS)
+		return CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_FULL;
+
+	client->subscriptions = g_slist_prepend(client->subscriptions,
+						g_strdup(channel));
+	++client->num_subscriptions;
+
+	idle_add(IDLE_SUBSCRIPTION);
+
+	return CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_OK;
+}
+
+bool
+client_unsubscribe(struct client *client, const char *channel)
+{
+	GSList *i = client_find_subscription(client, channel);
+	if (i == NULL)
+		return false;
+
+	assert(client->num_subscriptions > 0);
+
+	client->subscriptions = g_slist_remove(client->subscriptions, i->data);
+	--client->num_subscriptions;
+
+	idle_add(IDLE_SUBSCRIPTION);
+
+	assert((client->num_subscriptions == 0) ==
+	       (client->subscriptions == NULL));
+
+	return true;
+}
+
+void
+client_unsubscribe_all(struct client *client)
+{
+	for (GSList *i = client->subscriptions; i != NULL; i = g_slist_next(i))
+		g_free(i->data);
+
+	g_slist_free(client->subscriptions);
+	client->subscriptions = NULL;
+	client->num_subscriptions = 0;
+}
+
+bool
+client_push_message(struct client *client, const struct client_message *msg)
+{
+	assert(client != NULL);
+	assert(msg != NULL);
+	assert(client_message_defined(msg));
+
+	if (client->num_messages >= CLIENT_MAX_MESSAGES ||
+	    client_find_subscription(client, msg->channel) == NULL)
+		return false;
+
+	if (client->messages == NULL)
+		client_idle_add(client, IDLE_MESSAGE);
+
+	client->messages = g_slist_prepend(client->messages,
+					   client_message_dup(msg));
+	++client->num_messages;
+
+	return true;
+}
+
+GSList *
+client_read_messages(struct client *client)
+{
+	GSList *messages = g_slist_reverse(client->messages);
+
+	client->messages = NULL;
+	client->num_messages = 0;
+
+	return messages;
+}
diff --git a/src/client_subscribe.h b/src/client_subscribe.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..09f864417
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client_subscribe.h
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2011 The Music Player Daemon Project
+ * http://www.musicpd.org
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#ifndef MPD_CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_H
+#define MPD_CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_H
+
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <glib.h>
+
+struct client;
+struct client_message;
+
+enum client_subscribe_result {
+	/** success */
+	CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_OK,
+
+	/** invalid channel name */
+	CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_INVALID,
+
+	/** already subscribed to this channel */
+	CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_ALREADY,
+
+	/** too many subscriptions */
+	CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_FULL,
+};
+
+enum client_subscribe_result
+client_subscribe(struct client *client, const char *channel);
+
+bool
+client_unsubscribe(struct client *client, const char *channel);
+
+void
+client_unsubscribe_all(struct client *client);
+
+bool
+client_push_message(struct client *client, const struct client_message *msg);
+
+G_GNUC_MALLOC
+GSList *
+client_read_messages(struct client *client);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/command.c b/src/command.c
index 354bf85f5..aeed55a1b 100644
--- a/src/command.c
+++ b/src/command.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 #include "client.h"
 #include "client_idle.h"
 #include "client_internal.h"
+#include "client_subscribe.h"
 #include "tag_print.h"
 #include "path.h"
 #include "replay_gain_config.h"
@@ -1837,6 +1838,172 @@ handle_sticker(struct client *client, int argc, char *argv[])
 }
 #endif
 
+static enum command_return
+handle_subscribe(struct client *client, G_GNUC_UNUSED int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+	assert(argc == 2);
+
+	switch (client_subscribe(client, argv[1])) {
+	case CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_OK:
+		return COMMAND_RETURN_OK;
+
+	case CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_INVALID:
+		command_error(client, ACK_ERROR_ARG,
+			      "invalid channel name");
+		return COMMAND_RETURN_ERROR;
+
+	case CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_ALREADY:
+		command_error(client, ACK_ERROR_EXIST,
+			      "already subscribed to this channel");
+		return COMMAND_RETURN_ERROR;
+
+	case CLIENT_SUBSCRIBE_FULL:
+		command_error(client, ACK_ERROR_EXIST,
+			      "subscription list is full");
+		return COMMAND_RETURN_ERROR;
+	}
+
+	/* unreachable */
+	return COMMAND_RETURN_OK;
+}
+
+static enum command_return
+handle_unsubscribe(struct client *client, G_GNUC_UNUSED int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+	assert(argc == 2);
+
+	if (client_unsubscribe(client, argv[1]))
+		return COMMAND_RETURN_OK;
+	else {
+		command_error(client, ACK_ERROR_NO_EXIST,
+			      "not subscribed to this channel");
+		return COMMAND_RETURN_ERROR;
+	}
+}
+
+struct channels_context {
+	GStringChunk *chunk;
+
+	GHashTable *channels;
+};
+
+static void
+collect_channels(gpointer data, gpointer user_data)
+{
+	struct channels_context *context = user_data;
+	const struct client *client = data;
+
+	for (GSList *i = client->subscriptions; i != NULL;
+	     i = g_slist_next(i)) {
+		const char *channel = i->data;
+
+		if (g_hash_table_lookup(context->channels, channel) == NULL) {
+			char *channel2 = g_string_chunk_insert(context->chunk,
+							       channel);
+			g_hash_table_insert(context->channels, channel2,
+					    context);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+static void
+print_channel(gpointer key, G_GNUC_UNUSED gpointer value, gpointer user_data)
+{
+	struct client *client = user_data;
+	const char *channel = key;
+
+	client_printf(client, "channel: %s\n", channel);
+}
+
+static enum command_return
+handle_channels(struct client *client,
+		G_GNUC_UNUSED int argc, G_GNUC_UNUSED char *argv[])
+{
+	assert(argc == 1);
+
+	struct channels_context context = {
+		.chunk = g_string_chunk_new(1024),
+		.channels = g_hash_table_new(g_str_hash, g_str_equal),
+	};
+
+	client_list_foreach(collect_channels, &context);
+
+	g_hash_table_foreach(context.channels, print_channel, client);
+
+	g_hash_table_destroy(context.channels);
+	g_string_chunk_free(context.chunk);
+
+	return COMMAND_RETURN_OK;
+}
+
+static enum command_return
+handle_read_messages(struct client *client,
+		     G_GNUC_UNUSED int argc, G_GNUC_UNUSED char *argv[])
+{
+	assert(argc == 1);
+
+	GSList *messages = client_read_messages(client);
+
+	for (GSList *i = messages; i != NULL; i = g_slist_next(i)) {
+		struct client_message *msg = i->data;
+
+		client_printf(client, "channel: %s\nmessage: %s\n",
+			      msg->channel, msg->message);
+		client_message_free(msg);
+	}
+
+	g_slist_free(messages);
+
+	return COMMAND_RETURN_OK;
+}
+
+struct send_message_context {
+	struct client_message msg;
+
+	bool sent;
+};
+
+static void
+send_message(gpointer data, gpointer user_data)
+{
+	struct send_message_context *context = user_data;
+	struct client *client = data;
+
+	if (client_push_message(client, &context->msg))
+		context->sent = true;
+}
+
+static enum command_return
+handle_send_message(struct client *client,
+		    G_GNUC_UNUSED int argc, G_GNUC_UNUSED char *argv[])
+{
+	assert(argc == 3);
+
+	if (!client_message_valid_channel_name(argv[1])) {
+		command_error(client, ACK_ERROR_ARG,
+			      "invalid channel name");
+		return COMMAND_RETURN_ERROR;
+	}
+
+	struct send_message_context context = {
+		.sent = false,
+	};
+
+	client_message_init(&context.msg, argv[1], argv[2]);
+
+	client_list_foreach(send_message, &context);
+
+	client_message_deinit(&context.msg);
+
+	if (context.sent)
+		return COMMAND_RETURN_OK;
+	else {
+		command_error(client, ACK_ERROR_NO_EXIST,
+			      "nobody is subscribed to this channel");
+		return COMMAND_RETURN_ERROR;
+	}
+}
+
 /**
  * The command registry.
  *
@@ -1845,6 +2012,7 @@ handle_sticker(struct client *client, int argc, char *argv[])
 static const struct command commands[] = {
 	{ "add", PERMISSION_ADD, 1, 1, handle_add },
 	{ "addid", PERMISSION_ADD, 1, 2, handle_addid },
+	{ "channels", PERMISSION_READ, 0, 0, handle_channels },
 	{ "clear", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 0, 0, handle_clear },
 	{ "clearerror", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 0, 0, handle_clearerror },
 	{ "close", PERMISSION_NONE, -1, -1, handle_close },
@@ -1895,6 +2063,7 @@ static const struct command commands[] = {
 	{ "plchangesposid", PERMISSION_READ, 1, 1, handle_plchangesposid },
 	{ "previous", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 0, 0, handle_previous },
 	{ "random", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 1, 1, handle_random },
+	{ "readmessages", PERMISSION_READ, 0, 0, handle_read_messages },
 	{ "rename", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 2, 2, handle_rename },
 	{ "repeat", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 1, 1, handle_repeat },
 	{ "replay_gain_mode", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 1, 1,
@@ -1907,6 +2076,7 @@ static const struct command commands[] = {
 	{ "search", PERMISSION_READ, 2, -1, handle_search },
 	{ "seek", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 2, 2, handle_seek },
 	{ "seekid", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 2, 2, handle_seekid },
+	{ "sendmessage", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 2, 2, handle_send_message },
 	{ "setvol", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 1, 1, handle_setvol },
 	{ "shuffle", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 0, 1, handle_shuffle },
 	{ "single", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 1, 1, handle_single },
@@ -1916,9 +2086,11 @@ static const struct command commands[] = {
 	{ "sticker", PERMISSION_ADMIN, 3, -1, handle_sticker },
 #endif
 	{ "stop", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 0, 0, handle_stop },
+	{ "subscribe", PERMISSION_READ, 1, 1, handle_subscribe },
 	{ "swap", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 2, 2, handle_swap },
 	{ "swapid", PERMISSION_CONTROL, 2, 2, handle_swapid },
 	{ "tagtypes", PERMISSION_READ, 0, 0, handle_tagtypes },
+	{ "unsubscribe", PERMISSION_READ, 1, 1, handle_unsubscribe },
 	{ "update", PERMISSION_ADMIN, 0, 1, handle_update },
 	{ "urlhandlers", PERMISSION_READ, 0, 0, handle_urlhandlers },
 };
diff --git a/src/idle.c b/src/idle.c
index 7b9f658c6..2d174d78a 100644
--- a/src/idle.c
+++ b/src/idle.c
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ static const char *const idle_names[] = {
 	"options",
 	"sticker",
 	"update",
+	"subscription",
+	"message",
         NULL
 };
 
diff --git a/src/idle.h b/src/idle.h
index 52adc4d6e..0156933c0 100644
--- a/src/idle.h
+++ b/src/idle.h
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@ enum {
 
 	/** a database update has started or finished. */
 	IDLE_UPDATE = 0x100,
+
+	/** a client has subscribed or unsubscribed to/from a channel */
+	IDLE_SUBSCRIPTION = 0x200,
+
+	/** a message on the subscribed channel was receivedd */
+	IDLE_MESSAGE = 0x400,
 };
 
 /**