diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/ui/MessagesFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/ui/MessagesFragment.kt
index d552e4b6..b483a5a3 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/ui/MessagesFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/ui/MessagesFragment.kt
@@ -228,6 +228,17 @@ class MessagesFragment : ScreenFragment("Messages"), Logging {
     override fun onViewCreated(view: View, savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
         super.onViewCreated(view, savedInstanceState)
 
+        binding.sendButton.setOnClickListener {
+            debug("sendButton click")
+
+            val str = binding.messageInputText.text.toString().trim()
+            if (str.isNotEmpty())
+                model.messagesState.sendMessage(str)
+            binding.messageInputText.setText("") // blow away the string the user just entered
+
+            // requireActivity().hideKeyboard()
+        }
+
         binding.messageInputText.on(EditorInfo.IME_ACTION_DONE) {
             debug("did IME action")
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/messages_fragment.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/messages_fragment.xml
index 3e829e3d..9939d3b4 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/layout/messages_fragment.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/layout/messages_fragment.xml
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
             android:layout_width="match_parent"
             android:layout_height="wrap_content"
             android:imeOptions="actionDone"
-            android:singleLine="true"
             android:text="" />
 
     </com.google.android.material.textfield.TextInputLayout>