diff --git a/noteguard.toml b/noteguard.toml
index d3445bd..467693c 100644
--- a/noteguard.toml
+++ b/noteguard.toml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ pipeline = ["protected_events", "kinds", "content", "whitelist", "ratelimit"]
 [filters.ratelimit]
 posts_per_minute = 8
 whitelist = ["127.0.0.1"]
+message = "rate-limited: you note too much"
 
 [filters.content]
 filters = ["https://cdn.nostr.build/i/some-spammy-or-abusive-image-image.png"]
diff --git a/src/filters/ratelimit.rs b/src/filters/ratelimit.rs
index 4279f24..44cb514 100644
--- a/src/filters/ratelimit.rs
+++ b/src/filters/ratelimit.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ pub struct Tokens {
 pub struct RateLimit {
     pub posts_per_minute: i32,
     pub whitelist: Option<Vec<String>>,
+    pub message: Option<String>,
 
     #[serde(skip)]
     pub sources: HashMap<String, Tokens>,
@@ -65,7 +66,11 @@ impl NoteFilter for RateLimit {
             return OutputMessage::new(
                 msg.event.id.clone(),
                 Action::Reject,
-                Some("rate-limited: you are noting too much".to_string()),
+                Some(
+                    self.message
+                        .clone()
+                        .unwrap_or("rate-limited: you are noting too much".to_string()),
+                ),
             );
         }