diff --git a/docs/changelog.txt b/docs/changelog.txt
index cd842d6..bb810a9 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 changelog
 
+=== next
+
++ Easier to use ping command.
+
 === 0.9.3 Notacanthous Nutshell
 
 ++ backup command.
diff --git a/honk.go b/honk.go
index ea2ceac..663725d 100644
--- a/honk.go
+++ b/honk.go
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ func main() {
 		svalbard(name)
 	case "ping":
 		if len(args) < 3 {
-			fmt.Printf("usage: honk ping from to\n")
+			fmt.Printf("usage: honk ping (from username) (to username or url)\n")
 			return
 		}
 		name := args[1]
diff --git a/web.go b/web.go
index 0b1f05a..db905ad 100644
--- a/web.go
+++ b/web.go
@@ -257,12 +257,23 @@ func crappola(j junk.Junk) bool {
 }
 
 func ping(user *WhatAbout, who string) {
+	if targ := fullname(who, user.ID); targ != "" {
+		who = targ
+	}
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(who, "https:") {
+		who = gofish(who)
+	}
+	if who == "" {
+		log.Printf("nobody to ping!")
+		return
+	}
 	var box *Box
 	ok := boxofboxes.Get(who, &box)
 	if !ok {
 		log.Printf("no inbox to ping %s", who)
 		return
 	}
+	log.Printf("sending ping to %s", box.In)
 	j := junk.New()
 	j["@context"] = itiswhatitis
 	j["type"] = "Ping"