diff --git a/openbsc/src/vty_interface.c b/openbsc/src/vty_interface.c
index 9c07ce9..70c5e01 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/vty_interface.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/vty_interface.c
@@ -1196,8 +1196,7 @@
 	return b;
 }
 
-static int _send_sms_buffer(struct gsm_subscriber *receiver,
-			     struct buffer *b)
+int sms_from_text(struct gsm_subscriber *receiver, const char *text)
 {
 	struct gsm_sms *sms = sms_alloc();
 
@@ -1211,7 +1210,7 @@
 	}
 
 	sms->receiver = receiver;
-	strncpy(sms->text, buffer_getstr(b), sizeof(sms->text)-1);
+	strncpy(sms->text, text, sizeof(sms->text)-1);
 
 	/* FIXME: don't use ID 1 static */
 	sms->sender = subscr_get_by_id(gsmnet, 1);
@@ -1224,6 +1223,16 @@
 	/* Generate user_data */
 	sms->user_data_len = gsm_7bit_encode(sms->user_data, sms->text);
 
+	return sms;
+}
+
+static int _send_sms_buffer(struct gsm_subscriber *receiver,
+			     struct buffer *b)
+{
+	struct gsm_sms *sms;
+
+	sms = sms_from_text(receiver, buffer_getstr(b));
+
 	gsm411_send_sms_subscr(sms->receiver, sms);
 
 	return CMD_SUCCESS;