diff --git a/cmd/bot/main.go b/cmd/bot/main.go
index 9010110..8da32a7 100644
--- a/cmd/bot/main.go
+++ b/cmd/bot/main.go
@@ -118,6 +118,10 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatalf("Failed to subscribe: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	if err := client.RegisterSlashCommand("standup"); err != nil {
+		log.Printf("Warning: could not register /standup command (use !standup instead): %v", err)
+	}
+
 	log.Println("Bot is running. Press Ctrl+C to stop.")
 
 	sig := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
diff --git a/internal/commands/help.go b/internal/commands/help.go
index 7a4f954..99b5c38 100644
--- a/internal/commands/help.go
+++ b/internal/commands/help.go
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ package commands
 import "fmt"
 
 func handleHelp(ctx *Context) error {
-	base := "Available commands:\n"
+	base := "Available commands (prefix with `/standup` or `!standup`):\n"
 
 	cmds := ""
 	if ctx.Username == ctx.Config.MainAdmin {
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func sendHelpForCommand(ctx *Context, cmd string) error {
 
 	msg, ok := help[cmd]
 	if !ok {
-		msg = fmt.Sprintf("No help available for `/standup %s`.", cmd)
+		msg = fmt.Sprintf("No help available for `%s %s`.", "command", cmd)
 	}
 	return send(ctx.Messenger, ctx.RoomID, msg)
 }
diff --git a/internal/commands/registry.go b/internal/commands/registry.go
index 0f59c5b..4b266eb 100644
--- a/internal/commands/registry.go
+++ b/internal/commands/registry.go
@@ -69,11 +69,12 @@ func (r *Registry) Register(name string, handler Handler, perm Permission) {
 }
 
 func (r *Registry) Dispatch(ctx *Context) (bool, error) {
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(ctx.RawText, "/standup") {
+	text := strings.TrimSpace(ctx.RawText)
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(text, "/standup") && !strings.HasPrefix(text, "!standup") {
 		return false, nil
 	}
 
-	parts := strings.Fields(ctx.RawText)
+	parts := strings.Fields(text)
 	if len(parts) < 2 {
 		ctx.CmdName = "help"
 		ctx.Args = nil
diff --git a/internal/rocket/client.go b/internal/rocket/client.go
index 13e772d..f14e3e8 100644
--- a/internal/rocket/client.go
+++ b/internal/rocket/client.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package rocket
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
@@ -213,6 +214,22 @@ func (c *Client) IsDMRoom(roomID string) (bool, error) {
 	return resp.Room.Type == "d", nil
 }
 
+func (c *Client) RegisterSlashCommand(command string) error {
+	if c.rest == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("not connected")
+	}
+	body := fmt.Sprintf(`{"command": "%s", "clientOnly": true}`, command)
+	var resp rest.Status
+	if err := c.rest.Post("commands.register", bytes.NewBufferString(body), &resp); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("register slash command: %w", err)
+	}
+	if !resp.Success {
+		return fmt.Errorf("slash command registration failed: %s", resp.Error)
+	}
+	log.Printf("Registered /%s as a client-only slash command", command)
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (c *Client) UserInfo(username string) (*models.User, error) {
 	if c.rest == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("not connected")