diff --git a/database.go b/database.go
index 9e5231e..40e2768 100644
--- a/database.go
+++ b/database.go
@@ -962,7 +962,7 @@ func savexonker(what, value, flav, when string) {
 	stmtSaveXonker.Exec(what, value, flav, when)
 }
 
-func savehonker(user *WhatAbout, url, name, flavor, combos, mj string) error {
+func savehonker(user *WhatAbout, url, name, flavor, combos, mj string) (int64, error) {
 	var owner string
 	if url[0] == '#' {
 		flavor = "peep"
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ func savehonker(user *WhatAbout, url, name, flavor, combos, mj string) error {
 		info, err := investigate(url)
 		if err != nil {
 			ilog.Printf("failed to investigate honker: %s", err)
-			return err
+			return 0, err
 		}
 		url = info.XID
 		if name == "" {
@@ -993,19 +993,19 @@ func savehonker(user *WhatAbout, url, name, flavor, combos, mj string) error {
 		} else {
 			err = fmt.Errorf("it seems you are already subscribed to them")
 		}
-		return err
+		return 0, err
 	}
 
 	res, err := stmtSaveHonker.Exec(user.ID, name, url, flavor, combos, owner, mj)
 	if err != nil {
 		elog.Print(err)
-		return err
+		return 0, err
 	}
 	honkerid, _ := res.LastInsertId()
 	if flavor == "presub" {
 		followyou(user, honkerid)
 	}
-	return nil
+	return honkerid, nil
 }
 
 func cleanupdb(arg string) {
diff --git a/docs/honk.3 b/docs/honk.3
index 5144ec1..7997ef2 100644
--- a/docs/honk.3
+++ b/docs/honk.3
@@ -158,6 +158,27 @@ Delete this honk.
 Mute this thread.
 What should identify a convoy.
 .El
+.Ss gethonkers
+Returns a list of current honkers in json format.
+.Ss savehonker
+Save a new honker, or update an existing one.
+The following fields are used.
+.Bl -tag -width honkerid
+.It Fa honkerid
+The numeric ID of an existing honker to update.
+.It Fa name
+The preferred short name.
+.It Fa url
+The ActivityPub actor url.
+.It Fa combos
+Space separated list of combos.
+.It Fa notes
+Some notes.
+.El
+.Pp
+The honker numeric ID will be returned for success.
+To delete, unsub, or sub, include a form value with name and value equal.
+As in, a form value named delete with the value delete, or unsub=unsub, etc.
 .Ss sendactivity
 Send anything.
 No limits, no error checking.
diff --git a/import.go b/import.go
index f455837..88db67b 100644
--- a/import.go
+++ b/import.go
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ func importMastotooters(user *WhatAbout, source string) {
 		name := ""
 		flavor := "peep"
 		combos := ""
-		err := savehonker(user, url, name, flavor, combos, mj)
+		_, err := savehonker(user, url, name, flavor, combos, mj)
 		if err != nil {
 			elog.Printf("trouble with a honker: %s", err)
 		}
diff --git a/web.go b/web.go
index 4d0ade8..9c00847 100644
--- a/web.go
+++ b/web.go
@@ -1563,7 +1563,7 @@ func submitdonk(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) (*Donk, error) {
 	return d, nil
 }
 
-func submitwebhonk(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+func websubmithonk(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	h := submithonk(w, r)
 	if h == nil {
 		return
@@ -1884,7 +1884,15 @@ func showcombos(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 }
 
-func submithonker(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+func websubmithonker(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	h := submithonker(w, r)
+	if h == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	http.Redirect(w, r, "/honkers", http.StatusSeeOther)
+}
+
+func submithonker(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) *Honker {
 	u := login.GetUserInfo(r)
 	user, _ := butwhatabout(u.Username)
 	name := strings.TrimSpace(r.FormValue("name"))
@@ -1897,7 +1905,7 @@ func submithonker(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	re_namecheck := regexp.MustCompile("[\\pL[:digit:]_.-]+")
 	if name != "" && !re_namecheck.MatchString(name) {
 		http.Error(w, "please use a plainer name", http.StatusInternalServerError)
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	var meta HonkerMeta
@@ -1906,12 +1914,16 @@ func submithonker(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 	defer honkerinvalidator.Clear(u.UserID)
 
+	// mostly dummy, fill in later...
+	h := &Honker{
+		ID: honkerid,
+	}
+
 	if honkerid > 0 {
 		if r.FormValue("delete") == "delete" {
 			unfollowyou(user, honkerid)
 			stmtDeleteHonker.Exec(honkerid)
-			http.Redirect(w, r, "/honkers", http.StatusSeeOther)
-			return
+			return h
 		}
 		if r.FormValue("unsub") == "unsub" {
 			unfollowyou(user, honkerid)
@@ -1922,15 +1934,14 @@ func submithonker(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		_, err := stmtUpdateHonker.Exec(name, combos, mj, honkerid, u.UserID)
 		if err != nil {
 			elog.Printf("update honker err: %s", err)
-			return
+			return nil
 		}
-		http.Redirect(w, r, "/honkers", http.StatusSeeOther)
-		return
+		return h
 	}
 
 	if url == "" {
 		http.Error(w, "subscribing to nothing?", http.StatusInternalServerError)
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	flavor := "presub"
@@ -1938,13 +1949,13 @@ func submithonker(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		flavor = "peep"
 	}
 
-	err := savehonker(user, url, name, flavor, combos, mj)
+	id, err := savehonker(user, url, name, flavor, combos, mj)
 	if err != nil {
 		http.Error(w, "had some trouble with that: "+err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
-
-	http.Redirect(w, r, "/honkers", http.StatusSeeOther)
+	h.ID = id
+	return h
 }
 
 func hfcspage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
@@ -2311,7 +2322,7 @@ func apihandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		if h == nil {
 			return
 		}
-		w.Write([]byte(h.XID))
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s", h.XID)
 	case "donk":
 		d, err := submitdonk(w, r)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -2371,6 +2382,16 @@ func apihandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		for rcpt := range rcpts {
 			go deliverate(0, userid, rcpt, msg, true)
 		}
+	case "gethonkers":
+		j := junk.New()
+		j["honkers"] = gethonkers(u.UserID)
+		j.Write(w)
+	case "savehonker":
+		h := submithonker(w, r)
+		if h == nil {
+			return
+		}
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "%d", h.ID)
 	default:
 		http.Error(w, "unknown action", http.StatusNotFound)
 		return
@@ -2560,7 +2581,7 @@ func serve() {
 	loggedin.HandleFunc("/xzone", xzone)
 	loggedin.HandleFunc("/newhonk", newhonkpage)
 	loggedin.HandleFunc("/edit", edithonkpage)
-	loggedin.Handle("/honk", login.CSRFWrap("honkhonk", http.HandlerFunc(submitwebhonk)))
+	loggedin.Handle("/honk", login.CSRFWrap("honkhonk", http.HandlerFunc(websubmithonk)))
 	loggedin.Handle("/bonk", login.CSRFWrap("honkhonk", http.HandlerFunc(submitbonk)))
 	loggedin.Handle("/zonkit", login.CSRFWrap("honkhonk", http.HandlerFunc(zonkit)))
 	loggedin.Handle("/savehfcs", login.CSRFWrap("filter", http.HandlerFunc(savehfcs)))
@@ -2575,7 +2596,7 @@ func serve() {
 	loggedin.HandleFunc("/q", showsearch)
 	loggedin.HandleFunc("/hydra", webhydra)
 	loggedin.HandleFunc("/emus", showemus)
-	loggedin.Handle("/submithonker", login.CSRFWrap("submithonker", http.HandlerFunc(submithonker)))
+	loggedin.Handle("/submithonker", login.CSRFWrap("submithonker", http.HandlerFunc(websubmithonker)))
 
 	err = http.Serve(listener, mux)
 	if err != nil {