diff --git a/src/command.c b/src/command.c
index 8b4cd556..7a7e900b 100644
--- a/src/command.c
+++ b/src/command.c
@@ -220,18 +220,15 @@ static struct cmd_t main_commands[] =
           NULL } } },
 
     { "/msg",
-        _cmd_msg, parse_args_with_freetext, 2, 2,
-        { "/msg user@host mesg", "Send mesg to user.",
-        { "/msg user@host mesg",
-          "-------------------",
-          "Send a message to the user specified.",
-          "Use tab completion to autocomplete online contacts.",
-          "If there is no current chat with the recipient, a new chat window",
-          "will be opened, and highlighted in the status bar at the bottom.",
-          "pressing the corresponding F key will take you to that window.",
-          "This command can be called from any window, including chat with other users.",
+        _cmd_msg, parse_args_with_freetext, 1, 2,
+        { "/msg user@host [message]", "Start chat window with user.",
+        { "/msg user@host [message]",
+          "------------------------",
+          "Open a chat window with user@host and send the message if one is supplied.",
+          "Use tab completion to autocomplete conacts from the roster.",
           "",
-          "Example : /msg boothj5@gmail.com Hey, here's a message!",
+          "Example : /msg myfriend@server.com Hey, here's a message!",
+          "Example : /msg otherfriend@server.com",
           NULL } } },
 
     { "/info",
@@ -1402,9 +1399,15 @@ _cmd_msg(gchar **args, struct cmd_help_t help)
 
     if (conn_status != JABBER_CONNECTED) {
         cons_show("You are not currently connected.");
-    } else if (ui_windows_full()) {
+        return TRUE;
+    }
+
+    if (ui_windows_full()) {
         cons_bad_show("Windows all used, close a window and try again.");
-    } else {
+        return TRUE;
+    }
+
+    if (msg != NULL) {
         jabber_send(msg, usr);
         win_show_outgoing_msg("me", usr, msg);
 
@@ -1412,9 +1415,12 @@ _cmd_msg(gchar **args, struct cmd_help_t help)
             const char *jid = jabber_get_jid();
             chat_log_chat(jid, usr, msg, OUT, NULL);
         }
-    }
 
-    return TRUE;
+        return TRUE;
+    } else {
+        win_new_chat_win(usr);
+        return TRUE;
+    }
 }
 
 static gboolean
diff --git a/src/ui.h b/src/ui.h
index b6ec9085..0edcb2ab 100644
--- a/src/ui.h
+++ b/src/ui.h
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ void win_show_gone(const char * const from);
 void win_show_system_msg(const char * const from, const char *message);
 void win_show_outgoing_msg(const char * const from, const char * const to,
     const char * const message);
+void win_new_chat_win(const char * const to);
 
 void win_join_chat(const char * const room, const char * const nick);
 void win_show_room_roster(const char * const room);
diff --git a/src/windows.c b/src/windows.c
index f2d2cebe..9ef29d88 100644
--- a/src/windows.c
+++ b/src/windows.c
@@ -637,6 +637,39 @@ win_show_gone(const char * const from)
     }
 }
 
+void
+win_new_chat_win(const char * const to)
+{
+    // if the contact is offline, show a message
+    PContact contact = contact_list_get_contact(to);
+    int win_index = _find_prof_win_index(to);
+    WINDOW *win = NULL;
+
+    // create new window
+    if (win_index == NUM_WINS) {
+        win_index = _new_prof_win(to, WIN_CHAT);
+        win = windows[win_index]->win;
+
+        if (prefs_get_chlog() && prefs_get_history()) {
+            _win_show_history(win, win_index, to);
+        }
+
+        if (contact != NULL) {
+            if (strcmp(p_contact_presence(contact), "offline") == 0) {
+                const char const *show = p_contact_presence(contact);
+                const char const *status = p_contact_status(contact);
+                _show_status_string(win, to, show, status, "--", "offline");
+            }
+        }
+
+    // use existing window
+    } else {
+        win = windows[win_index]->win;
+    }
+
+    ui_switch_win(win_index);
+}
+
 void
 win_show_outgoing_msg(const char * const from, const char * const to,
     const char * const message)