diff --git a/modules/bbstools.py b/modules/bbstools.py
index 87231b0..7540385 100644
--- a/modules/bbstools.py
+++ b/modules/bbstools.py
@@ -118,7 +118,11 @@ def load_bbsdm():
     # load the bbs messages from the database file
     try:
         with open('data/bbsdm.pkl', 'rb') as f:
-            bbs_dm = pickle.load(f)
+            new_bbs_dm = pickle.load(f)
+            if isinstance(new_bbs_dm, list):
+                for msg in new_bbs_dm:
+                    if msg not in bbs_dm:
+                        bbs_dm.append(msg)
     except:
         bbs_dm = [[1234567890, "Message", 1234567890]]
         logger.debug("System: Creating new data/bbsdm.pkl")
diff --git a/modules/system.py b/modules/system.py
index ef280f4..0c1c59a 100644
--- a/modules/system.py
+++ b/modules/system.py
@@ -1347,6 +1347,10 @@ async def watchdog():
         # check for noisy telemetry
         if noisyNodeLogging:
             noisyTelemetryCheck()
+        
+        # check the load_bbsdm flag to reload the BBS messages from disk
+        if bbs_enabled:
+            load_bbsdm()
 
 def exit_handler():
     # Close the interface and save the BBS messages