diff --git a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift
index a38dc529..51e93024 100644
--- a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift
+++ b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift
@@ -1435,7 +1435,7 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
 
     /// Processes IRC-style commands starting with '/'.
     /// - Parameter command: The full command string including the leading slash
-    /// - Note: Supports commands like /nick, /msg, /who, /slap, /clear, /help
+    /// - Note: Supports commands like /msg, /who, /slap, /clear, /help
     @MainActor
     func handleCommand(_ command: String) {
         let result = commandProcessor.process(command)
@@ -1443,16 +1443,29 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
         switch result {
         case .success(let message):
             if let msg = message {
-                addSystemMessage(msg)
+                addCommandOutput(msg)
             }
         case .error(let message):
-            addSystemMessage(message)
+            addCommandOutput(message)
         case .handled:
             // Command was handled, no message needed
             break
         }
     }
 
+    /// Command output belongs in the conversation where the user typed the
+    /// command; the public timeline is invisible while a DM is open. The DM
+    /// selection is read *after* processing so commands that switch chats
+    /// (`/msg`) print into the conversation they just opened.
+    @MainActor
+    private func addCommandOutput(_ content: String) {
+        if let peerID = selectedPrivateChatPeer {
+            addLocalPrivateSystemMessage(content, to: peerID)
+        } else {
+            addSystemMessage(content)
+        }
+    }
+
     // MARK: - Message Reception
 
     @MainActor
diff --git a/bitchatTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift b/bitchatTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift
index 3e9c2daa..5a50f0ac 100644
--- a/bitchatTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift
+++ b/bitchatTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift
@@ -263,6 +263,59 @@ struct ChatViewModelCommandTests {
             #expect(transport.sentPrivateMessages.isEmpty)
         }
     }
+
+    @Test @MainActor
+    func handleCommand_outputRoutesToOpenPrivateChat() async {
+        let (viewModel, transport) = makeTestableViewModel()
+        let peerID = PeerID(str: "0000000000000002")
+        transport.simulateConnect(peerID, nickname: "Alice")
+        viewModel.selectedPrivateChatPeer = peerID
+
+        viewModel.handleCommand("/help")
+
+        #expect(viewModel.privateChats[peerID]?.last?.content == CommandProcessor.helpText)
+        #expect(!viewModel.messages.contains { $0.content == CommandProcessor.helpText })
+    }
+
+    @Test @MainActor
+    func handleCommand_errorRoutesToOpenPrivateChat() async {
+        let (viewModel, transport) = makeTestableViewModel()
+        let peerID = PeerID(str: "0000000000000002")
+        transport.simulateConnect(peerID, nickname: "Alice")
+        viewModel.selectedPrivateChatPeer = peerID
+
+        viewModel.handleCommand("/bogus")
+
+        let dmContents = viewModel.privateChats[peerID]?.map(\.content) ?? []
+        #expect(dmContents.contains { $0.hasPrefix("unknown command: /bogus") })
+        #expect(!viewModel.messages.contains { $0.content.hasPrefix("unknown command: /bogus") })
+    }
+
+    @Test @MainActor
+    func handleCommand_outputRoutesToPublicTimelineWithoutOpenDM() async {
+        let (viewModel, _) = makeTestableViewModel()
+
+        viewModel.handleCommand("/bogus")
+
+        #expect(viewModel.messages.last?.content.hasPrefix("unknown command: /bogus") == true)
+    }
+
+    @Test @MainActor
+    func handleCommand_msgSuccessLandsInNewlyOpenedChat() async {
+        let (viewModel, transport) = makeTestableViewModel()
+        let peerID = PeerID(str: "0000000000000002")
+        transport.simulateConnect(peerID, nickname: "Alice")
+        let resolved = await TestHelpers.waitUntil({
+            viewModel.getPeerIDForNickname("Alice") == peerID
+        }, timeout: TestConstants.defaultTimeout)
+        #expect(resolved)
+
+        viewModel.handleCommand("/msg Alice")
+
+        #expect(viewModel.selectedPrivateChatPeer == peerID)
+        #expect(viewModel.privateChats[peerID]?.last?.content == "started private chat with Alice")
+        #expect(!viewModel.messages.contains { $0.content == "started private chat with Alice" })
+    }
 }
 
 // MARK: - Composer Tests