diff --git a/src/globals.rs b/src/globals.rs
index 6fd95aa2..2ad40649 100644
--- a/src/globals.rs
+++ b/src/globals.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,15 @@ pub struct Globals {
 
     /// This is ephemeral. It is filled during lazy_static initialization,
     /// and stolen away when the Overlord is created.
-    pub from_minions: Mutex<Option<mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<BusMessage>>>,
+    pub tmp_overlord_receiver: Mutex<Option<mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<BusMessage>>>,
+
+    /// This is an mpsc channel. The Syncer listens on it.
+    /// To create a sender, just clone() it.
+    pub to_syncer: mpsc::UnboundedSender<String>,
+
+    /// This is ephemeral. It is filled during lazy_static initializtion,
+    /// and stolen away when the Syncer is created.
+    pub tmp_syncer_receiver: Mutex<Option<mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<String>>>,
 
     /// All nostr events, keyed by the event Id
     pub events: RwLock<HashMap<Id, Event>>,
@@ -80,13 +88,18 @@ lazy_static! {
         let (to_minions, _) = broadcast::channel(256);
 
         // Setup a communications channel from the Minions to the Overlord.
-        let (to_overlord, from_minions) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
+        let (to_overlord, tmp_overlord_receiver) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
+
+        // Setup a communications channel from the UI (or anybody else) to the Syncer.
+        let (to_syncer, tmp_syncer_receiver) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
 
         Globals {
             db: Mutex::new(None),
             to_minions,
             to_overlord,
-            from_minions: Mutex::new(Some(from_minions)),
+            tmp_overlord_receiver: Mutex::new(Some(tmp_overlord_receiver)),
+            to_syncer,
+            tmp_syncer_receiver: Mutex::new(Some(tmp_syncer_receiver)),
             events: RwLock::new(HashMap::new()),
             incoming_events: RwLock::new(Vec::new()),
             relationships: RwLock::new(HashMap::new()),
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 4796e046..143e0157 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ mod process;
 mod relationship;
 mod settings;
 mod signer;
+mod syncer;
 mod ui;
 
 use crate::comms::BusMessage;
@@ -67,15 +68,29 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Error> {
 }
 
 async fn tokio_main() {
-    // Steal `from_minions` from the GLOBALS, and give it to a new Overlord
-    let from_minions = {
-        let mut mutex_option = GLOBALS.from_minions.lock().await;
+    // note: we don't get a spawn handle here, we don't signal this thread when we are exiting,
+    // we just let it die when tokio_main() exits. I think that is ok.
+    tokio::task::spawn(async move {
+        // Steal `tmp_syncer_receiver` from the GLOBALS, and give it to a new Syncer
+        let syncer_receiver = {
+            let mut mutex_option = GLOBALS.tmp_syncer_receiver.lock().await;
+            mem::replace(mutex_option.deref_mut(), None)
+        }
+        .unwrap();
+
+        let mut syncer = crate::syncer::Syncer::new(syncer_receiver);
+        syncer.run().await;
+    });
+
+    // Steal `tmp_overlord_receiver` from the GLOBALS, and give it to a new Overlord
+    let overlord_receiver = {
+        let mut mutex_option = GLOBALS.tmp_overlord_receiver.lock().await;
         mem::replace(mutex_option.deref_mut(), None)
     }
     .unwrap();
 
     // Run the overlord
-    let mut overlord = crate::overlord::Overlord::new(from_minions);
+    let mut overlord = crate::overlord::Overlord::new(overlord_receiver);
     overlord.run().await;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/overlord/mod.rs b/src/overlord/mod.rs
index 9c583667..f4448e73 100644
--- a/src/overlord/mod.rs
+++ b/src/overlord/mod.rs
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ impl Overlord {
                 .insert(Url::new(&relay.url), relay.clone());
         }
 
+        // Test the syncer
+        let _ = GLOBALS.to_syncer.send("test".to_owned());
+
         // Load people from the database
         {
             let mut dbpeople = DbPerson::fetch(None).await?;
diff --git a/src/syncer.rs b/src/syncer.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d67fa9d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/syncer.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+use tokio::sync::mpsc;
+
+pub struct Syncer {
+    incoming: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<String>,
+}
+
+impl Syncer {
+    pub fn new(incoming: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<String>) -> Syncer {
+        Syncer { incoming }
+    }
+
+    pub async fn run(&mut self) {
+        loop {
+            let message = self.incoming.recv().await;
+
+            if message.is_none() {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            let message = message.unwrap();
+
+            match &*message {
+                "test" => {
+                    tracing::debug!("Syncer received test message.");
+                }
+                _ => {
+                    tracing::debug!("Syncer received unknown message: {}", message);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}