diff --git a/pkg-r/NEWS.md b/pkg-r/NEWS.md
index 2f07280..596231a 100644
--- a/pkg-r/NEWS.md
+++ b/pkg-r/NEWS.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 * Added `chat_append(icon=...)` and `chat_ui(icon_assistant=...)` for customizing the icon that appears next to assistant responses. (#88)
 
-* `chat_mod_server()` now returns a list of reactives for `last_input` and `last_turn`, as well and functions to `update_user_input()` and `clear()` the chat. (#130)
+* `chat_mod_server()` now returns a list of reactives for `last_input` and `last_turn`, as well functions to `update_user_input()`, `append()` and `clear()` the chat. (#130, #143, #145)
 
 ## Improvements
 
diff --git a/pkg-r/R/chat_app.R b/pkg-r/R/chat_app.R
index 552df10..e23d6b9 100644
--- a/pkg-r/R/chat_app.R
+++ b/pkg-r/R/chat_app.R
@@ -74,13 +74,16 @@
 #'   * `chat_app()` returns a [shiny::shinyApp()] object.
 #'   * `chat_mod_ui()` returns the UI for a shinychat module.
 #'   * `chat_mod_server()` includes the shinychat module server logic, and
-#'     and a list with:
+#'     returns a list containing:
 #'
 #'     * `last_input`: A reactive value containing the last user input.
 #'     * `last_turn`: A reactive value containing the last assistant turn.
 #'     * `update_user_input()`: A function to update the chat input or submit a
 #'       new user input. Takes the same arguments as [update_chat_user_input()],
 #'       except for `id` and `session`, which are supplied automatically.
+#'     * `append()`: A function to append a new message to the chat UI. Takes
+#'       the same arguments as [chat_append()], except for `id` and `session`,
+#'       which are supplied automatically.
 #'     * `clear()`: A function to clear the chat history and the chat UI.
 #'       `clear()` takes an optional list of `messages` used to initialize the
 #'       chat after clearing. `messages` should be a list of messages, where
@@ -224,6 +227,10 @@ chat_mod_server <- function(
       )
     }
 
+    chat_append_mod <- function(response, role = "assistant", icon = NULL) {
+      chat_append("chat", response, role = role, icon = icon, session = session)
+    }
+
     client_clear <- function(
       messages = NULL,
       client_history = c("clear", "set", "append", "keep")
@@ -271,6 +278,7 @@ chat_mod_server <- function(
       last_turn = shiny::reactive(last_turn()),
       last_input = shiny::reactive(last_input()),
       client = client,
+      append = chat_append_mod,
       update_user_input = chat_update_user_input,
       clear = client_clear
     )
diff --git a/pkg-r/man/chat_app.Rd b/pkg-r/man/chat_app.Rd
index 923eb8a..468b522 100644
--- a/pkg-r/man/chat_app.Rd
+++ b/pkg-r/man/chat_app.Rd
@@ -48,13 +48,16 @@ in \code{\link[=chat_ui]{chat_ui()}}.}
 \item \code{chat_app()} returns a \code{\link[shiny:shinyApp]{shiny::shinyApp()}} object.
 \item \code{chat_mod_ui()} returns the UI for a shinychat module.
 \item \code{chat_mod_server()} includes the shinychat module server logic, and
-and a list with:
+returns a list containing:
 \itemize{
 \item \code{last_input}: A reactive value containing the last user input.
 \item \code{last_turn}: A reactive value containing the last assistant turn.
 \item \code{update_user_input()}: A function to update the chat input or submit a
 new user input. Takes the same arguments as \code{\link[=update_chat_user_input]{update_chat_user_input()}},
 except for \code{id} and \code{session}, which are supplied automatically.
+\item \code{append()}: A function to append a new message to the chat UI. Takes
+the same arguments as \code{\link[=chat_append]{chat_append()}}, except for \code{id} and \code{session},
+which are supplied automatically.
 \item \code{clear()}: A function to clear the chat history and the chat UI.
 \code{clear()} takes an optional list of \code{messages} used to initialize the
 chat after clearing. \code{messages} should be a list of messages, where