diff --git a/docs/honk.3 b/docs/honk.3
index bfd524d..495bbe7 100644
--- a/docs/honk.3
+++ b/docs/honk.3
@@ -70,7 +70,11 @@ value should be
 The following values are recognized:
 .Bl -tag -width placename
 .It Fa noise
-The contents of the honk in markdown format.
+The contents of the honk.
+.It fa format
+The format of noise.
+Defaults to markdown.
+May also be html.
 .It Fa donk
 A file to attach.
 .It Fa donkdesc
diff --git a/web.go b/web.go
index 4e4eb01..95e3c54 100644
--- a/web.go
+++ b/web.go
@@ -1433,6 +1433,14 @@ func submitwebhonk(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 func submithonk(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, isAPI bool) {
 	rid := r.FormValue("rid")
 	noise := r.FormValue("noise")
+	format := r.FormValue("format")
+	if format == "" {
+		format = "markdown"
+	}
+	if !(format == "markdown" || format == "html") {
+		http.Error(w, "unknown format", 500)
+		return
+	}
 
 	userinfo := login.GetUserInfo(r)
 	user, _ := butwhatabout(userinfo.Username)
@@ -1448,7 +1456,7 @@ func submithonk(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, isAPI bool) {
 		}
 		honk.Date = dt
 		honk.What = "update"
-		honk.Format = "markdown"
+		honk.Format = format
 	} else {
 		xid := fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s/%s", user.URL, honkSep, xfiltrate())
 		what := "honk"
@@ -1462,7 +1470,7 @@ func submithonk(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, isAPI bool) {
 			Honker:   user.URL,
 			XID:      xid,
 			Date:     dt,
-			Format:   "markdown",
+			Format:   format,
 		}
 	}