diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index df94550..468ca75 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@ import (
 	_ "github.com/joho/godotenv/autoload" // loads .env file
 )
 
+const defaultMOTD = ` _ __   ___  ___  (_)_ __ ___
+| '_ \ / _ \/ _ \ | | '__/ __|
+| | | |  __/ (_) || | | | (__
+|_| |_|\___|\___/ |_|_|  \___|
+
+Welcome to NeoIRC — IRC semantics over HTTP.
+Type /help for available commands.`
+
 // Params defines the dependencies for creating a Config.
 type Params struct {
 	fx.In
@@ -62,7 +70,7 @@ func New(
 	viper.SetDefault("METRICS_PASSWORD", "")
 	viper.SetDefault("MAX_HISTORY", "10000")
 	viper.SetDefault("MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE", "4096")
-	viper.SetDefault("MOTD", "")
+	viper.SetDefault("MOTD", defaultMOTD)
 	viper.SetDefault("SERVER_NAME", "")
 	viper.SetDefault("FEDERATION_KEY", "")
 	viper.SetDefault("SESSION_IDLE_TIMEOUT", "24h")
diff --git a/internal/handlers/api.go b/internal/handlers/api.go
index 092428a..6b59383 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/api.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/api.go
@@ -670,6 +670,13 @@ func (hdlr *Handlers) dispatchCommand(
 		hdlr.handleQuit(
 			writer, request, sessionID, nick, body,
 		)
+	case "MOTD":
+		hdlr.deliverMOTD(
+			request, clientID, sessionID, nick,
+		)
+		hdlr.respondJSON(writer, request,
+			map[string]string{"status": "ok"},
+			http.StatusOK)
 	case "PING":
 		hdlr.respondJSON(writer, request,
 			map[string]string{
diff --git a/web/src/app.jsx b/web/src/app.jsx
index 9086bf4..8f95398 100644
--- a/web/src/app.jsx
+++ b/web/src/app.jsx
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ function LoginScreen({ onLogin }) {
     const saved = localStorage.getItem("neoirc_token");
     if (saved) {
       api("/state")
-        .then((u) => onLogin(u.nick))
+        .then((u) => onLogin(u.nick, true))
         .catch(() => localStorage.removeItem("neoirc_token"));
     }
     inputRef.current?.focus();
@@ -497,6 +497,31 @@ function App() {
     inputRef.current?.focus();
   }, [activeTab]);
 
+  // Global keyboard handler — capture '/' to prevent
+  // Firefox quick search and redirect focus to the input.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const handleGlobalKeyDown = (e) => {
+      if (
+        e.key === "/" &&
+        document.activeElement !== inputRef.current &&
+        !e.ctrlKey &&
+        !e.altKey &&
+        !e.metaKey
+      ) {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        inputRef.current?.focus();
+      }
+    };
+
+    document.addEventListener("keydown", handleGlobalKeyDown);
+
+    // Also focus input on initial mount.
+    inputRef.current?.focus();
+
+    return () =>
+      document.removeEventListener("keydown", handleGlobalKeyDown);
+  }, []);
+
   // Fetch topic for active channel.
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!loggedIn) return;
@@ -512,10 +537,24 @@ function App() {
   }, [loggedIn, activeTab, tabs]);
 
   const onLogin = useCallback(
-    async (userNick) => {
+    async (userNick, isResumed) => {
       setNick(userNick);
       setLoggedIn(true);
       addSystemMessage("Server", `Connected as ${userNick}`);
+
+      // Request MOTD on resumed sessions (new sessions get
+      // it automatically from the server during creation).
+      if (isResumed) {
+        try {
+          await api("/messages", {
+            method: "POST",
+            body: JSON.stringify({ command: "MOTD" }),
+          });
+        } catch (e) {
+          // MOTD is non-critical.
+        }
+      }
+
       const saved = JSON.parse(
         localStorage.getItem("neoirc_channels") || "[]",
       );
@@ -791,18 +830,70 @@ function App() {
 
         break;
       }
+      case "/motd": {
+        try {
+          await api("/messages", {
+            method: "POST",
+            body: JSON.stringify({ command: "MOTD" }),
+          });
+        } catch (err) {
+          addSystemMessage(
+            "Server",
+            `Failed to request MOTD: ${err.data?.error || "error"}`,
+          );
+        }
+
+        break;
+      }
+      case "/query": {
+        if (parts[1]) {
+          const target = parts[1];
+          openDM(target);
+          const msgText = parts.slice(2).join(" ");
+          if (msgText) {
+            try {
+              await api("/messages", {
+                method: "POST",
+                body: JSON.stringify({
+                  command: "PRIVMSG",
+                  to: target,
+                  body: [msgText],
+                }),
+              });
+            } catch (err) {
+              addSystemMessage(
+                "Server",
+                `Message failed: ${err.data?.error || "error"}`,
+              );
+            }
+          }
+        } else {
+          addSystemMessage("Server", "Usage: /query <nick> [message]");
+        }
+
+        break;
+      }
+      case "/clear": {
+        const clearTarget = tab.name;
+        setMessages((prev) => ({ ...prev, [clearTarget]: [] }));
+
+        break;
+      }
       case "/help": {
         const helpLines = [
           "Available commands:",
-          "  /join #channel     — Join a channel",
-          "  /part [reason]     — Part the current channel",
-          "  /msg nick message  — Send a private message",
-          "  /me action         — Send an action",
-          "  /nick newnick      — Change your nickname",
-          "  /topic [text]      — View or set channel topic",
-          "  /mode +/-flags     — Set channel modes",
-          "  /quit [reason]     — Disconnect from server",
-          "  /help              — Show this help",
+          "  /join #channel        — Join a channel",
+          "  /part [reason]        — Part the current channel",
+          "  /msg nick message     — Send a private message",
+          "  /query nick [message] — Open a DM tab (optionally send a message)",
+          "  /me action            — Send an action",
+          "  /nick newnick         — Change your nickname",
+          "  /topic [text]         — View or set channel topic",
+          "  /mode +/-flags        — Set channel modes",
+          "  /motd                 — Display the message of the day",
+          "  /clear                — Clear messages in the current tab",
+          "  /quit [reason]        — Disconnect from server",
+          "  /help                 — Show this help",
         ];
         for (const line of helpLines) {
           addSystemMessage("Server", line);
diff --git a/web/src/style.css b/web/src/style.css
index 0fcd97f..f8b3784 100644
--- a/web/src/style.css
+++ b/web/src/style.css
@@ -70,14 +70,14 @@ body,
 }
 
 .login-box .motd {
-  color: var(--text-dim);
-  font-size: 12px;
+  color: var(--accent);
+  font-size: 11px;
   margin-bottom: 20px;
   text-align: left;
-  white-space: pre-wrap;
+  white-space: pre;
   font-family: inherit;
-  border-left: 2px solid var(--border);
-  padding-left: 12px;
+  line-height: 1.2;
+  overflow-x: auto;
 }
 
 .login-box form {