diff --git a/client/message.go b/client/message.go
index 1ceebb6..7071b80 100644
--- a/client/message.go
+++ b/client/message.go
@@ -78,3 +78,15 @@ func ProcessServerResponse(srv *InternalServer, msg []byte) (*meowlib.FromServer
 	}
 	return fsmsg, nil
 }
+
+func ProcessUserMessage(peer Peer, message []byte, signature []byte) (*meowlib.UserMessage, error) {
+	dec, err := peer.AsymDecryptMessage(message, signature)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	msg, err := peer.DeserializeUserMessage(dec)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return msg, nil
+}
diff --git a/client/peer.go b/client/peer.go
index c435a92..c3e83a9 100644
--- a/client/peer.go
+++ b/client/peer.go
@@ -142,6 +142,15 @@ func (p *Peer) SerializeUserMessage(msg *meowlib.UserMessage) ([]byte, error) {
 	return out, nil
 }
 
+func (p *Peer) DeserializeUserMessage(data []byte) (*meowlib.UserMessage, error) {
+	var msg meowlib.UserMessage
+	err := proto.Unmarshal(data, &msg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &msg, nil
+}
+
 // AsymEncryptMessage prepares a message to send to a specific peer contact
 func (p *Peer) AsymEncryptMessage(Message []byte) (EncryptedMessage []byte, Signature []byte, Servers []*meowlib.Server, err error) {
 	EncryptedMessage, Signature, err = meowlib.AsymEncryptAndSign(p.Contact.EncryptionPublicKey, p.MyIdentity.Private, Message)