diff --git a/toys/mug2/mug-msg-view.c b/toys/mug2/mug-msg-view.c
index c1d76c6d..36e3b897 100644
--- a/toys/mug2/mug-msg-view.c
+++ b/toys/mug2/mug-msg-view.c
@@ -140,3 +140,15 @@ mug_msg_view_set_msg (MugMsgView * self, const char *msgpath)
 
 	return TRUE;
 }
+
+
+void
+mug_msg_view_set_note (MugMsgView * self, const char* html)
+{
+	MugMsgViewPrivate *priv;
+	g_return_if_fail (MUG_IS_MSG_VIEW (self));
+	
+	priv = MUG_MSG_VIEW_GET_PRIVATE (self);
+
+	mu_msg_view_set_note (MU_MSG_VIEW (priv->_view), html);
+}
diff --git a/toys/mug2/mug-msg-view.h b/toys/mug2/mug-msg-view.h
index 695604c7..b4491e79 100644
--- a/toys/mug2/mug-msg-view.h
+++ b/toys/mug2/mug-msg-view.h
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ GType mug_msg_view_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 /* if this is a kind of GtkWidget, it should probably return at GtkWidget* */
 GtkWidget* mug_msg_view_new (void);
 gboolean mug_msg_view_set_msg (MugMsgView * self, const char *msgpath);
+void mug_msg_view_set_note (MugMsgView * self, const char* html);
 
 G_END_DECLS
 #endif				/* __MUG_MSG_VIEW_H__ */
diff --git a/toys/mug2/mug.cc b/toys/mug2/mug.cc
index 3263721e..66ea2e1f 100644
--- a/toys/mug2/mug.cc
+++ b/toys/mug2/mug.cc
@@ -318,8 +318,10 @@ mug_query_area (MugData * mugdata)
 	gtk_paned_add1 (GTK_PANED (paned), scrolled);
 
 	mugdata->msgview = mug_msg_view_new ();
-
-	mug_msg_view_set_msg (MUG_MSG_VIEW (mugdata->msgview), NULL);
+	mug_msg_view_set_note (MUG_MSG_VIEW(mugdata->msgview),
+			       "<h1>Welcome to <i>mug</i>!</h1><hr>"
+			       "<tt>mug</tt> is an experimental UI for <tt>mu</tt>, which will "
+			       "slowly evolve into something useful.<br><br>Enjoy the ride.");
 	g_signal_connect (G_OBJECT (mugdata->mlist), "msg-selected",
 			  G_CALLBACK (on_msg_selected), mugdata);
 	g_signal_connect (G_OBJECT (mugdata->mlist), "error-occured",