diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
index a5a1ef96..d666d537 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
@@ -396,8 +396,9 @@ public:
       if (recipient && attempt < 4 && txt_type == TXT_TYPE_PLAIN) {
         char *text = (char *) &cmd_frame[i];
         int tlen = len - i;
+        uint32_t est_timeout;
         text[tlen] = 0;  // ensure null
-        int result = sendMessage(*recipient, msg_timestamp, attempt, text, expected_ack_crc);
+        int result = sendMessage(*recipient, msg_timestamp, attempt, text, expected_ack_crc, est_timeout);
         // TODO: add expected ACK to table
         if (result == MSG_SEND_FAILED) {
           writeErrFrame();
@@ -407,7 +408,8 @@ public:
           out_frame[0] = RESP_CODE_SENT;
           out_frame[1] = (result == MSG_SEND_SENT_FLOOD) ? 1 : 0;
           memcpy(&out_frame[2], &expected_ack_crc, 4);
-          _serial->writeFrame(out_frame, 6);
+          memcpy(&out_frame[6], &est_timeout, 4);
+          _serial->writeFrame(out_frame, 10);
         }
       } else {
         writeErrFrame(); // unknown recipient, or unsuported TXT_TYPE_*
diff --git a/examples/simple_secure_chat/main.cpp b/examples/simple_secure_chat/main.cpp
index abe564ed..af905869 100644
--- a/examples/simple_secure_chat/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_secure_chat/main.cpp
@@ -277,7 +277,9 @@ public:
     if (memcmp(command, "send ", 5) == 0) {
       if (curr_recipient) {
         const char *text = &command[5];
-        int result = sendMessage(*curr_recipient, getRTCClock()->getCurrentTime(), 0, text, expected_ack_crc);
+        uint32_t est_timeout;
+
+        int result = sendMessage(*curr_recipient, getRTCClock()->getCurrentTime(), 0, text, expected_ack_crc, est_timeout);
         if (result == MSG_SEND_FAILED) {
           Serial.println("   ERROR: unable to send.");
         } else {
diff --git a/src/helpers/BaseChatMesh.cpp b/src/helpers/BaseChatMesh.cpp
index 9b231a1e..6f1bf6f7 100644
--- a/src/helpers/BaseChatMesh.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/BaseChatMesh.cpp
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ mesh::Packet* BaseChatMesh::composeMsgPacket(const ContactInfo& recipient, uint3
   return createDatagram(PAYLOAD_TYPE_TXT_MSG, recipient.id, recipient.shared_secret, temp, 5 + text_len);
 }
 
-int  BaseChatMesh::sendMessage(const ContactInfo& recipient, uint32_t timestamp, uint8_t attempt, const char* text, uint32_t& expected_ack) {
+int  BaseChatMesh::sendMessage(const ContactInfo& recipient, uint32_t timestamp, uint8_t attempt, const char* text, uint32_t& expected_ack, uint32_t& est_timeout) {
   mesh::Packet* pkt = composeMsgPacket(recipient, timestamp, attempt, text, expected_ack);
   if (pkt == NULL) return MSG_SEND_FAILED;
 
@@ -210,11 +210,11 @@ int  BaseChatMesh::sendMessage(const ContactInfo& recipient, uint32_t timestamp,
   int rc;
   if (recipient.out_path_len < 0) {
     sendFlood(pkt);
-    txt_send_timeout = futureMillis(calcFloodTimeoutMillisFor(t));
+    txt_send_timeout = futureMillis(est_timeout = calcFloodTimeoutMillisFor(t));
     rc = MSG_SEND_SENT_FLOOD;
   } else {
     sendDirect(pkt, recipient.out_path, recipient.out_path_len);
-    txt_send_timeout = futureMillis(calcDirectTimeoutMillisFor(t, recipient.out_path_len));
+    txt_send_timeout = futureMillis(est_timeout = calcDirectTimeoutMillisFor(t, recipient.out_path_len));
     rc = MSG_SEND_SENT_DIRECT;
   }
   return rc;
diff --git a/src/helpers/BaseChatMesh.h b/src/helpers/BaseChatMesh.h
index 9a7b2627..3c696e7a 100644
--- a/src/helpers/BaseChatMesh.h
+++ b/src/helpers/BaseChatMesh.h
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ protected:
 
 public:
   mesh::Packet* createSelfAdvert(const char* name);
-  int  sendMessage(const ContactInfo& recipient, uint32_t timestamp, uint8_t attempt, const char* text, uint32_t& expected_ack);
+  int  sendMessage(const ContactInfo& recipient, uint32_t timestamp, uint8_t attempt, const char* text, uint32_t& expected_ack, uint32_t& est_timeout);
   void resetPathTo(ContactInfo& recipient);
   void scanRecentContacts(int last_n, ContactVisitor* visitor);
   ContactInfo* searchContactsByPrefix(const char* name_prefix);