diff --git a/examples/echobot.rs b/examples/echobot.rs
index 92770b3..185816b 100644
--- a/examples/echobot.rs
+++ b/examples/echobot.rs
@@ -41,9 +41,7 @@ fn main() {
                 }
                 Event::NewMessageFromPeer { profile_id, conversation_id, contact_id: contact, nick, timestamp_received, message, notification, picture } => {
                     let response = Message { o: message.o.into(), d: message.d };
-                    let response_json =
-                        serde_json::to_string(&response).expect("Error parsing json response");
-                    cwtch.send_message( &profile_id, conversation_id, &response_json);
+                    cwtch.send_message( &profile_id, conversation_id, &response);
                 }
                 _ => eprintln!("unhandled event!"),
             };
diff --git a/src/bindings_go.rs b/src/bindings_go.rs
index 10e5141..3efba74 100644
--- a/src/bindings_go.rs
+++ b/src/bindings_go.rs
@@ -149,9 +149,15 @@ impl CwtchLib for CwtchLibGo {
     fn get_messages(&self, profile: &ProfileIdentity, conversation_id: ConversationID, message_index: i32, count: i32) -> String {
         self._get_messages(String::from(profile).as_str(), conversation_id.into(), message_index, count)
     }
-    fn send_message(&self, profile: &ProfileIdentity, conversation_id: ConversationID, msg: &str) -> String {
+    fn send_message_raw(&self, profile: &ProfileIdentity, conversation_id: ConversationID, msg: &str) -> String {
         self._send_message(String::from(profile).as_str(), conversation_id.into(), msg)
     }
+    fn send_message(&self, profile: &ProfileIdentity, conversation_id: ConversationID, message: &Message) -> Result<String, CwtchError> {
+        match serde_json::to_string(&message) {
+            Ok(message_json) => Ok(self._send_message(&String::from(profile), conversation_id.into(), &message_json)),
+            Err(e) => Err(format!("Error parsing json response: {}", e.to_string()))
+        }
+    }
     fn send_invitation(&self, profile: &ProfileIdentity, conversation_id: ConversationID, target_id: i32) -> String {
         self._send_invitation(String::from(profile).as_str(), conversation_id.into(), target_id)
     }
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index ee92cc5..458804c 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #![deny(missing_docs)]
 
 use crate::event::{ConversationID, Event, FileKey, ProfileIdentity, ServerIdentity};
+use crate::structs::Message;
 
 mod bindings_go;
 mod cwtchlib_go;
@@ -66,9 +67,12 @@ pub trait CwtchLib {
     fn get_messages(&self, profile: &ProfileIdentity, conversation_id: ConversationID, message_index: i32, count: i32)  -> String;
 
     /// Send json of a structs::Message from profile to contact. Returns computed sent message (including index and hash values)
-    fn send_message(&self, profile: &ProfileIdentity, conversation_id: ConversationID, msg: &str) -> String;
+    fn send_message_raw(&self, profile: &ProfileIdentity, conversation_id: ConversationID, msg: &str) -> String;
 
-    /// Send profile's contact an invite for/to target. Returns computed sent message (including index and hash values)
+    /// Send structs::Message from profile to contact. Returns computed sent message (including index and hash values) or Error
+    fn send_message(&self, profile: &ProfileIdentity, conversation_id: ConversationID, message: &Message) -> Result<String, CwtchError>;
+
+        /// Send profile's contact an invite for/to target. Returns computed sent message (including index and hash values)
     fn send_invitation(&self, profile: &ProfileIdentity, conversation_id: ConversationID, target_id: i32) -> String;
 
     /// share a file file_path with a conersation. Returns computed sent message (including index and hash values)