diff --git a/cmdExec.go b/cmdExec.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aec242d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmdExec.go
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+// +build !rm_basic_commands allcommands execcmd
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os/exec"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	command := Command{
+		Cmd:         []string{"exec", "ex"},
+		Description: "$keybase args - executes keybase $args and returns the output",
+		Help:        "",
+		Exec:        cmdExec,
+	}
+	RegisterCommand(command)
+}
+
+func cmdExec(cmd []string) {
+	l := len(cmd)
+	switch {
+	case l >= 2:
+		if cmd[1] == "keybase" {
+			// if the user types /exec keybase wallet list
+			// only send ["wallet", "list"]
+			runKeybaseExec(cmd[2:])
+		} else {
+			// send everything except the command
+			runKeybaseExec(cmd[1:])
+		}
+	case l == 1:
+		fallthrough
+	default:
+		printExecHelp()
+	}
+}
+
+func runKeybaseExec(args []string) {
+	cmd := exec.Command("keybase", args...)
+	output, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		printToView("Feed", fmt.Sprintf("Exec error: %+v", err))
+	} else {
+		channel.Name = ""
+		// unjoin the chat
+		clearView("Chat")
+		setViewTitle("Input", fmt.Sprintf(" /exec %s ", strings.Join(args, " ")))
+		printToView("Chat", fmt.Sprintf("%s", output))
+	}
+}
+
+func printExecHelp() {
+	printInfo(fmt.Sprintf("To execute a keybase command use %sexec <keybase args>", config.Basics.CmdPrefix))
+}