diff --git a/host.go b/host.go
index a5d12d9d..f5752298 100644
--- a/host.go
+++ b/host.go
@@ -96,6 +96,28 @@ func (h *Host) Connect(term *sshd.Terminal) {
 	cfg := user.Config()
 	cfg.Theme = &h.theme
 	user.SetConfig(cfg)
+
+	env := term.Env()
+	for _, e := range env {
+		switch e.Key {
+		case "SSHCHAT_TIMESTAMP":
+			if e.Value != "" && e.Value != "0" {
+				cmd := "/timestamp"
+				if e.Value != "1" {
+					cmd += " " + e.Value
+				}
+				if msg, ok := message.NewPublicMsg(cmd, user).ParseCommand(); ok {
+					h.Room.HandleMsg(msg)
+				}
+			}
+		case "SSHCHAT_THEME":
+			cmd := "/theme " + e.Value
+			if msg, ok := message.NewPublicMsg(cmd, user).ParseCommand(); ok {
+				h.Room.HandleMsg(msg)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	go user.Consume()
 
 	// Close term once user is closed.
diff --git a/sshd/pty.go b/sshd/pty.go
index 4443fd33..d3ed9ca8 100644
--- a/sshd/pty.go
+++ b/sshd/pty.go
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ import "encoding/binary"
 
 // parsePtyRequest parses the payload of the pty-req message and extracts the
 // dimensions of the terminal. See RFC 4254, section 6.2.
-func parsePtyRequest(s []byte) (width, height int, ok bool) {
-	_, s, ok = parseString(s)
+func parsePtyRequest(s []byte) (term string, width, height int, ok bool) {
+	term, s, ok = parseString(s)
 	if !ok {
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/sshd/terminal.go b/sshd/terminal.go
index 472b5c15..480fa59c 100644
--- a/sshd/terminal.go
+++ b/sshd/terminal.go
@@ -55,6 +55,29 @@ func (c sshConn) Name() string {
 	return c.User()
 }
 
+// EnvVar is an environment variable key-value pair
+type EnvVar struct {
+	Key   string
+	Value string
+}
+
+func (v EnvVar) String() string {
+	return v.Key + "=" + v.Value
+}
+
+// Env is a wrapper type around []EnvVar with some helper methods
+type Env []EnvVar
+
+// Get returns the latest value for a given key, or empty string if not found
+func (e Env) Get(key string) string {
+	for i := len(e) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+		if e[i].Key == key {
+			return e[i].Value
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
 // Terminal extends ssh/terminal to include a close method
 type Terminal struct {
 	terminal.Terminal
@@ -63,6 +86,10 @@ type Terminal struct {
 
 	done      chan struct{}
 	closeOnce sync.Once
+
+	mu   sync.Mutex
+	env  []EnvVar
+	term string
 }
 
 // Make new terminal from a session channel
@@ -82,7 +109,8 @@ func NewTerminal(conn *ssh.ServerConn, ch ssh.NewChannel) (*Terminal, error) {
 		done: make(chan struct{}),
 	}
 
-	go term.listen(requests)
+	ready := make(chan struct{})
+	go term.listen(requests, ready)
 
 	go func() {
 		// Keep-Alive Ticker
@@ -103,6 +131,14 @@ func NewTerminal(conn *ssh.ServerConn, ch ssh.NewChannel) (*Terminal, error) {
 		}
 	}()
 
+	select {
+	case <-ready: // ok...
+	case <-term.done:
+		return nil, errors.New("terminal aborted")
+	case <-time.NewTimer(time.Minute).C:
+		return nil, errors.New("timed out starting terminal")
+	}
+
 	return &term, nil
 }
 
@@ -134,7 +170,8 @@ func (t *Terminal) Close() error {
 }
 
 // Negotiate terminal type and settings
-func (t *Terminal) listen(requests <-chan *ssh.Request) {
+// ready is closed when the terminal is ready.
+func (t *Terminal) listen(requests <-chan *ssh.Request, ready chan<- struct{}) {
 	hasShell := false
 
 	for req := range requests {
@@ -146,13 +183,19 @@ func (t *Terminal) listen(requests <-chan *ssh.Request) {
 			if !hasShell {
 				ok = true
 				hasShell = true
+				close(ready)
 			}
 		case "pty-req":
-			width, height, ok = parsePtyRequest(req.Payload)
+			var term string
+			term, width, height, ok = parsePtyRequest(req.Payload)
 			if ok {
 				// TODO: Hardcode width to 100000?
 				err := t.SetSize(width, height)
 				ok = err == nil
+				// Save the term:
+				t.mu.Lock()
+				t.term = term
+				t.mu.Unlock()
 			}
 		case "window-change":
 			width, height, ok = parseWinchRequest(req.Payload)
@@ -161,6 +204,14 @@ func (t *Terminal) listen(requests <-chan *ssh.Request) {
 				err := t.SetSize(width, height)
 				ok = err == nil
 			}
+		case "env":
+			var v EnvVar
+			if err := ssh.Unmarshal(req.Payload, &v); err == nil {
+				t.mu.Lock()
+				t.env = append(t.env, v)
+				t.mu.Unlock()
+				ok = true
+			}
 		}
 
 		if req.WantReply {
@@ -168,3 +219,20 @@ func (t *Terminal) listen(requests <-chan *ssh.Request) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// Env returns a list of environment key-values that have been set. They are
+// returned in the order that they have been set, there is no deduplication or
+// other pre-processing applied.
+func (t *Terminal) Env() Env {
+	t.mu.Lock()
+	defer t.mu.Unlock()
+	return Env(t.env)
+}
+
+// Term returns the terminal string value as set by the pty.
+// If there was no pty request, this is empty.
+func (t *Terminal) Term() string {
+	t.mu.Lock()
+	defer t.mu.Unlock()
+	return t.term
+}