diff --git a/mesh_bot.py b/mesh_bot.py
index 0f79547..a0a35f5 100755
--- a/mesh_bot.py
+++ b/mesh_bot.py
@@ -82,13 +82,19 @@ def handle_ping(message, hop, snr, rssi):
 
 def handle_motd(message, message_from_id):
     global MOTD
-    if "$" in message and str(message_from_id) in str(bbs_admin_list):
+    if "?" in message and not "$": #basic help message
+        return "Message of the day, set with 'motd $ motd'"
+    elif "$" in message and str(message_from_id) in str(bbs_admin_list): #access control via bbs admin list
         motd = message.split("$")[1]
         MOTD = motd.rstrip()
         return "MOTD Set to: " + MOTD
         logger.debug(f"System: node changed MOTD: ", {message_from_id})
+    elif "$" in message and not (bbs_admin_list): #no names in bbs admin list
+        motd = message.split("$")[1]
+        MOTD = motd.rstrip()
+        return "MOTD Set to: " + MOTD
     elif "$" in message:
-        return "I can't do that for you " + str(bbs_admin_list)
+        return "I can't do that for you"
         logger.debug(f"System: node tried to change MOTD: ", {message_from_id})
     else:
         return MOTD