diff --git a/plugins/commands.py b/plugins/commands.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..beec961
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/commands.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# commands.py: base PyLink commands
+import sys, os
+sys.path.append(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
+import proto
+
+@proto.add_cmd
+def tell(irc, source, args):
+    try:
+        target, text = args[0], ' '.join(args[1:])
+    except IndexError:
+        proto._sendFromUser(irc, 'PRIVMSG %s :Error: not enough arguments' % source)
+        return
+    try:
+        proto._sendFromUser(irc, 'NOTICE %s :%s' % (irc.users[target].uid, text))
+    except KeyError:
+        proto._sendFromUser(irc, 'PRIVMSG %s :unknown user %r' % (source, target))
diff --git a/plugins/hello.py b/plugins/hello.py
index 982796f..1dec4e3 100644
--- a/plugins/hello.py
+++ b/plugins/hello.py
@@ -3,5 +3,5 @@ sys.path.append(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
 import proto
 
 @proto.add_cmd
-def hello(irc, source, command, args):
+def hello(irc, source, args):
     proto._sendFromUser(irc, 'PRIVMSG %s :hello!' % source)
diff --git a/proto.py b/proto.py
index 85312c2..0380bad 100644
--- a/proto.py
+++ b/proto.py
@@ -78,18 +78,16 @@ def handle_ping(irc, servernumeric, command, args):
         _sendFromServer(irc, 'PONG %s' % args[1])
 
 def handle_privmsg(irc, source, command, args):
-    # _sendFromUser(irc, 'PRIVMSG %s :hello!' % numeric)
-    print(irc.users)
     prefix = irc.conf['bot']['prefix']
     if args[0] == irc.pseudoclient.uid:
-        cmd_args = args[1].split(' ', 1)
+        cmd_args = args[1].split(' ')
         cmd = cmd_args[0]
         try:
-            cmd_args = cmd_args[1]
+            cmd_args = cmd_args[1:]
         except IndexError:
             cmd_args = []
         try:
-            bot_commands[cmd](irc, source, command, args)
+            bot_commands[cmd](irc, source, cmd_args)
         except KeyError:
             _sendFromUser(irc, 'PRIVMSG %s :unknown command %r' % (source, cmd))
 
@@ -161,7 +159,6 @@ def handle_events(irc, data):
         numeric = args[0]
         command = args[1]
         args = args[2:]
-        print(args)
     except IndexError:
         return