diff --git a/cmd/salty-chat/chat.go b/cmd/salty-chat/chat.go
index d51b80d..582703d 100644
--- a/cmd/salty-chat/chat.go
+++ b/cmd/salty-chat/chat.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"syscall"
 
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/manifoldco/promptui"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
+	"go.yarn.social/lextwt"
 
 	"go.mills.io/salty"
 	"go.mills.io/saltyim"
@@ -38,7 +40,8 @@ messages to the user via their endpoint.`,
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		uri := viper.GetString("uri")
 		identity := viper.GetString("identity")
-		chat(identity, uri, args[0])
+		inbox := viper.GetString("inbox")
+		chat(identity, uri, inbox, args[0])
 	},
 }
 
@@ -46,7 +49,7 @@ func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(chatCmd)
 }
 
-func chat(identity, uri string, user string) {
+func chat(identity, uri, inbox, user string) {
 	key, me, err := saltyim.GetIdentity(identity)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "error opening identity: %q", identity)
@@ -63,10 +66,11 @@ func chat(identity, uri string, user string) {
 		os.Exit(2)
 	}
 
-	inbox := os.Getenv("USER")
-
 	tm.Clear()
-	tm.Printf("Chatting with %s\n", user)
+	tm.Printf("Chatting as %s", me)
+	tm.Printf(" via %s/%s\n", uri, inbox)
+	tm.Printf("  with %s", user)
+	tm.Printf(" via %s\n", config.Endpoint)
 	tm.Flush()
 
 	stop := make(chan struct{})
@@ -86,8 +90,21 @@ func chat(identity, uri string, user string) {
 	go func() {
 		defer wg.Done()
 		for msg := range saltyim.Read(key, uri, inbox, stop) {
-			tm.Println(formatMsg(msg))
-			tm.Flush()
+			s, err := lextwt.ParseSalty(msg)
+			if err != nil {
+				continue
+			}
+			switch s := s.(type) {
+			case *lextwt.SaltyEvent:
+
+			case *lextwt.SaltyText:
+				if s.User.String() != user {
+					continue
+				}
+
+				tm.Println(formatMsg(msg))
+				tm.Flush()
+			}
 		}
 	}()
 	wg.Add(1)
@@ -101,6 +118,10 @@ func chat(identity, uri string, user string) {
 				break
 			}
 
+			if strings.TrimSpace(msg) == "" {
+				continue
+			}
+
 			b, err := salty.Encrypt(key, packMsg(me, msg), []string{config.Key})
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Fatalf("error encrypting message: %v", err)
diff --git a/cmd/salty-chat/root.go b/cmd/salty-chat/root.go
index e17e130..087891f 100644
--- a/cmd/salty-chat/root.go
+++ b/cmd/salty-chat/root.go
@@ -62,6 +62,11 @@ func init() {
 		"Use the identity file at PATH",
 	)
 
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringP(
+		"inbox", "b", saltyim.DefaultInbox(),
+		"Use the inbox with broker",
+	)
+
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringP(
 		"uri", "u", "https://msgbus.mills.io",
 		"URI to connect to saltyim broker",
@@ -74,6 +79,9 @@ func init() {
 
 	viper.BindPFlag("identity", rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Lookup("identity"))
 	viper.SetDefault("identity", saltyim.DefaultIdentity())
+
+	viper.BindPFlag("inbox", rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Lookup("inbox"))
+	viper.SetDefault("inbox", saltyim.DefaultInbox())
 }
 
 // initConfig reads in config file and ENV variables if set.
diff --git a/identity.go b/identity.go
index d758e45..e2a6d55 100644
--- a/identity.go
+++ b/identity.go
@@ -33,6 +33,12 @@ func DefaultIdentity() string {
 	return os.ExpandEnv("$HOME/.salty/$USER.key")
 }
 
+// DefaultInbox returns a default inbox file (if one exists) otherwise
+// returns an empty string
+func DefaultInbox() string {
+	return os.ExpandEnv("$USER")
+}
+
 // CreateIdentity ...
 func CreateIdentity(fn, user string) error {
 	f, err := os.OpenFile(fn, os.O_CREATE|os.O_EXCL|os.O_WRONLY, 0600)
diff --git a/lookup.go b/lookup.go
index b3179a6..798e1c1 100644
--- a/lookup.go
+++ b/lookup.go
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ func Lookup(addr string) (Config, error) {
 	res, err := Request(http.MethodGet, a.HashURI(), nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		// Fallback to plain user nick
+		log.WithError(err).Warn("failed to get hash uri. attempting plaintext.")
 		res, err = Request(http.MethodGet, a.URI(), nil, nil)
 	}
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/preflight.sh b/preflight.sh
index 8e85f33..9297f13 100755
--- a/preflight.sh
+++ b/preflight.sh
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ check_goversion() {
 
   gover="$(go version | grep -o -E 'go[0-9]+\.[0-9]+(\.[0-9]+)?')"
 
-  if ! go version | grep -E 'go1\.17(\.[0-9]+)?' > /dev/null; then
-    log2 "Go 1.17 is required, found ${gover}"
+  if ! go version | grep -E 'go1\.1[78](\.[0-9]+)?' > /dev/null; then
+    log2 "Go 1.17+ is required, found ${gover}"
     return 1
   fi