diff --git a/meshtastic/__init__.py b/meshtastic/__init__.py
index b14ba54..4a2b17c 100644
--- a/meshtastic/__init__.py
+++ b/meshtastic/__init__.py
@@ -111,11 +111,10 @@ class MeshInterface:
 
         if isinstance(destinationId, int):
             nodeNum = destinationId
-        elif nodeNum == BROADCAST_ADDR:
+        elif destinationId == BROADCAST_ADDR:
             nodeNum = 255
         else:
-            raise Exception(
-                "invalid destination addr, we don't yet support nodeid lookup")
+            nodeNum = self.nodes[destinationId].num
 
         meshPacket.to = nodeNum
         toRadio.packet.CopyFrom(meshPacket)
diff --git a/meshtastic/__main__.py b/meshtastic/__main__.py
index 511b9a0..b6d557c 100644
--- a/meshtastic/__main__.py
+++ b/meshtastic/__main__.py
@@ -19,28 +19,36 @@ def onReceive(packet):
 def onConnection(interface, topic=pub.AUTO_TOPIC):
     """Callback invoked when we connect/disconnect from a radio"""
     print(f"Connection changed: {topic.getName()}")
+
+
+def onConnected(interface):
+    """Callback invoked when we connect to a radio"""
     global args
-    if topic.getName() == "meshtastic.connection.established":
-        try:
-            if args.setpref:
-                name = args.setpref[0]
-                val = int(args.setpref[1])
-                setattr(interface.radioConfig.preferences, name, val)
-                print("Writing modified preferences to device...")
-                interface.writeConfig()
+    print("Connected to radio...")
+    try:
+        if args.sendtext:
+            print(f"Sending text message {args.sendtext} to {args.dest}")
+            interface.sendText(args.sendtext, args.dest)
 
-            if args.info:
-                print(interface.myInfo)
-                print(interface.radioConfig)
-                print("Nodes in mesh:")
-                for n in interface.nodes.values():
-                    asDict = google.protobuf.json_format.MessageToJson(n)
-                    print(asDict)
-        except Exception as ex:
-            print(ex)
+        if args.setpref:
+            name = args.setpref[0]
+            val = int(args.setpref[1])
+            setattr(interface.radioConfig.preferences, name, val)
+            print("Writing modified preferences to device...")
+            interface.writeConfig()
 
-        if args.info or args.setpref:
-            interface.close()  # after running command then exit
+        if args.info:
+            print(interface.myInfo)
+            print(interface.radioConfig)
+            print("Nodes in mesh:")
+            for n in interface.nodes.values():
+                asDict = google.protobuf.json_format.MessageToJson(n)
+                print(asDict)
+    except Exception as ex:
+        print(ex)
+
+    if args.info or args.setpref or args.sendtext:
+        interface.close()  # after running command then exit
 
 
 def onNode(node):
@@ -51,7 +59,8 @@ def onNode(node):
 def subscribe():
     """Subscribe to the topics the user probably wants to see, prints output to stdout"""
     pub.subscribe(onReceive, "meshtastic.receive")
-    pub.subscribe(onConnection, "meshtastic.connection")
+    # pub.subscribe(onConnection, "meshtastic.connection")
+    pub.subscribe(onConnected, "meshtastic.connection.established")
     pub.subscribe(onNode, "meshtastic.node")
 
 
@@ -74,6 +83,12 @@ def main():
 
     parser.add_argument("--setpref", help="Set a preferences field", nargs=2)
 
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--dest", help="The destination node id for the --send commands, if not set 'all' is assumed", default="all")
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--sendtext", help="Send a text message")
+
     parser.add_argument("--debug", help="Show API library debug log messages",
                         action="store_true")
 
@@ -84,7 +99,7 @@ def main():
     args = parser.parse_args()
     logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG if args.debug else logging.INFO)
 
-    if args.info or args.setpref:
+    if args.info or args.setpref or args.sendtext:
         args.seriallog = "none"  # assume no debug output in this case
 
     if args.test: