diff --git a/chat/message/user.go b/chat/message/user.go
index a3de57b..0fc8cc1 100644
--- a/chat/message/user.go
+++ b/chat/message/user.go
@@ -161,6 +161,9 @@ func (u *User) render(m Message) string {
 	switch m := m.(type) {
 	case PublicMsg:
 		if u == m.From() {
+			if !cfg.Echo {
+				return ""
+			}
 			out += m.RenderSelf(cfg)
 		} else {
 			out += m.RenderFor(cfg)
@@ -226,6 +229,7 @@ type UserConfig struct {
 	Highlight  *regexp.Regexp
 	Bell       bool
 	Quiet      bool
+	Echo       bool // Echo shows your own messages after sending, disabled for bots
 	Timeformat *string
 	Timezone   *time.Location
 	Theme      *Theme
@@ -237,6 +241,7 @@ var DefaultUserConfig UserConfig
 func init() {
 	DefaultUserConfig = UserConfig{
 		Bell:  true,
+		Echo:  true,
 		Quiet: false,
 	}
 
diff --git a/host.go b/host.go
index 4c54fba..8973229 100644
--- a/host.go
+++ b/host.go
@@ -90,11 +90,20 @@ func (h *Host) isOp(conn sshd.Connection) bool {
 
 // Connect a specific Terminal to this host and its room.
 func (h *Host) Connect(term *sshd.Terminal) {
-	term.SetEnterClear(true) // We provide our own echo rendering
 	id := NewIdentity(term.Conn)
 	user := message.NewUserScreen(id, term)
 	cfg := user.Config()
-	cfg.Theme = &h.theme
+
+	apiMode := strings.ToLower(term.Term()) == "bot"
+
+	if apiMode {
+		cfg.Theme = message.MonoTheme
+		cfg.Echo = false
+	} else {
+		term.SetEnterClear(true) // We provide our own echo rendering
+		cfg.Theme = &h.theme
+	}
+
 	user.SetConfig(cfg)
 
 	// Load user config overrides from ENV
@@ -151,9 +160,11 @@ func (h *Host) Connect(term *sshd.Terminal) {
 	}
 
 	// Successfully joined.
-	term.SetPrompt(GetPrompt(user))
-	term.AutoCompleteCallback = h.AutoCompleteFunction(user)
-	user.SetHighlight(user.Name())
+	if !apiMode {
+		term.SetPrompt(GetPrompt(user))
+		term.AutoCompleteCallback = h.AutoCompleteFunction(user)
+		user.SetHighlight(user.Name())
+	}
 
 	// Should the user be op'd on join?
 	if h.isOp(term.Conn) {
@@ -190,15 +201,22 @@ func (h *Host) Connect(term *sshd.Terminal) {
 
 		m := message.ParseInput(line, user)
 
-		if m, ok := m.(*message.CommandMsg); ok {
-			// Other messages render themselves by the room, commands we'll
-			// have to re-echo ourselves manually.
-			user.HandleMsg(m)
+		if !apiMode {
+			if m, ok := m.(*message.CommandMsg); ok {
+				// Other messages render themselves by the room, commands we'll
+				// have to re-echo ourselves manually.
+				user.HandleMsg(m)
+			}
 		}
 
 		// FIXME: Any reason to use h.room.Send(m) instead?
 		h.HandleMsg(m)
 
+		if apiMode {
+			// Skip the remaining rendering workarounds
+			continue
+		}
+
 		cmd := m.Command()
 		if cmd == "/nick" || cmd == "/theme" {
 			// Hijack /nick command to update terminal synchronously. Wouldn't
diff --git a/sshd/terminal.go b/sshd/terminal.go
index 7e40a5d..239a5ef 100644
--- a/sshd/terminal.go
+++ b/sshd/terminal.go
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func NewTerminal(conn *ssh.ServerConn, ch ssh.NewChannel) (*Terminal, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	term := Terminal{
-		Terminal: *terminal.NewTerminal(channel, "Connecting..."),
+		Terminal: *terminal.NewTerminal(channel, ""),
 		Conn:     sshConn{conn},
 		Channel:  channel,