diff --git a/code/chat.js b/code/chat.js
index 70c995d5..a95b56ad 100644
--- a/code/chat.js
+++ b/code/chat.js
@@ -200,6 +200,8 @@ window.chat.handlePublic = function(data, textStatus, jqXHR) {
   chat.writeDataToHash(data, chat._publicData, true);
   var oldMsgsWereAdded = old !== chat.getOldestTimestamp(false);
 
+  runHooks('publicChatDataAvailable', {raw: data, processed: chat._publicData});
+
   switch(chat.getActive()) {
     case 'public': window.chat.renderPublic(oldMsgsWereAdded); break;
     case 'compact': window.chat.renderCompact(oldMsgsWereAdded); break;
diff --git a/code/hooks.js b/code/hooks.js
index d980c626..a1d8c98e 100644
--- a/code/hooks.js
+++ b/code/hooks.js
@@ -24,9 +24,15 @@
 //              the Leaflet CircleMarker for the portal in "portal" var.
 // portalDetailsUpdated: fired after the details in the sidebar have
 //              been (re-)rendered
+// publicChatDataAvailable: this hook runs after data for any of the
+//              public chats has been received and processed, but not
+//              yet been displayed. The data hash contains both the un-
+//              processed raw ajax response as well as the processed
+//              chat data that is going to be used for display.
 
 window._hooks = {}
-window.VALID_HOOKS = ['portalAdded', 'portalDetailsUpdated'];
+window.VALID_HOOKS = ['portalAdded', 'portalDetailsUpdated',
+  'publicChatDataAvailable'];
 
 window.runHooks = function(event, data) {
   if(VALID_HOOKS.indexOf(event) === -1) throw('Unknown event type: ' + event);