diff --git a/backplane-server.lisp b/backplane-server.lisp
index 949e94d..ddc403e 100644
--- a/backplane-server.lisp
+++ b/backplane-server.lisp
@@ -40,15 +40,20 @@
 
 (defmethod render-result ((res result/success))
   (with-slots (message msg-id) res
+    (cl-json:encode-json
+     `((STATUS  . "OK")
+       (MESSAGE . ,message)
+       (MSGID   . ,msg-id)))
     (let ((msg   (if message (format nil ":~A" message) ""))
           (msgid (if msg-id (format nil " (~A)" msg-id) "")))
       (format nil "OK~A~A" msgid msg))))
 
 (defmethod render-result ((res result/error))
   (with-slots (message msg-id) res
-    (let ((msg   (if message (format nil ":~A" message) ""))
-          (msgid (if msg-id (format nil " (~A)" msg-id) "")))
-      (format nil "ERROR~A~A" msgid msg))))
+    (cl-json:encode-json
+     `((STATUS  . "ERROR")
+       (MESSAGE . ,message)
+       (MSGID   . ,msg-id)))))
 
 (defgeneric parse-message (sender service api-version message msg-id)
   (:documentation "Given an incoming message, turn it into the appropriate request."))
@@ -122,3 +127,10 @@
                           (format nil "backplane-~A" (machine-instance))
                           :mechanism :sasl-plain)
                backplane))))
+
+                                        ;;;; nope...capture the var name and make sure it gets closed, but still pass it in
+(defmacro with-backplane (backplane &rest ops)
+  (let ((bp-sym (gensym)))
+    `(let ((,bp-sym ,backplane))
+       (unwind-protect (progn ,@ops)
+         (cl-xmpp:disconnect ,bp-sym)))))