diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c4884b0..d454c55 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ Makefile.in
 /depcomp
 /install-sh
 /missing
+config.guess
+config.sub
 
 # Files generated by an in-tree build
 Makefile
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 206e0ff..1cc32ab 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 Usage: mq [OPTION...] create QNAME
   or:  mq [OPTION...] info QNAME
   or:  mq [OPTION...] unlink QNAME
-  or:  mq [OPTION...] send QNAME MESSAGE
+  or:  mq [OPTION...] send QNAME [MESSAGE]
   or:  mq [OPTION...] recv QNAME
 A command line tool to use Posix Message Queues from the shell
 
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ A command line tool to use Posix Message Queues from the shell
       --usage                Give a short usage message
   -V, --version              Print program version
 
+If the MESSAGE parameter is not provided for the send command, the message data will be read from standard input.
+
 Mandatory or optional arguments to long options are also mandatory or optional
 for any corresponding short options.
 
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ Commands:
 Examples:
   mq create /myqueue
   mq send /myqueue "hello" -n
+  echo "hello" | mq send /myqueue
   mq info /myqueue
   mq recv /myqueue
   mq unlink /myqueue
diff --git a/src/mq.c b/src/mq.c
index a5e5b8b..8c58d52 100644
--- a/src/mq.c
+++ b/src/mq.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ static char args_doc[] =
 	"create QNAME\n"
 	"info QNAME\n"
 	"unlink QNAME\n"
-	"send QNAME MESSAGE\n"
+	"send QNAME [MESSAGE]\n"
 	"recv QNAME"
 	;
 
@@ -172,7 +172,6 @@ static error_t parse_opt(int key, char *arg, struct argp_state *state)
 	case ARGP_KEY_END:
 		if (!args->command) argp_usage(state);
 		if (!args->qname) argp_usage(state);
-		if (0 == strcmp(args->command, "send") && !args->message) argp_usage(state);
 		return ARGP_ERR_UNKNOWN;
 
 	default:
@@ -253,8 +252,30 @@ static int cmd_send(const struct arguments *args)
 
 	LOG_VERBOSE_HEXA(args, (const uint8_t *)args->message, args->msglen);
 
-	/* Send */
-	int ret = mq_send(queue, args->message, args->msglen, args->priority);
+	int ret;
+	// Read the message from standard input if no message argument is passed
+	if (!args->message) {
+		char *message = malloc(sizeof(char) * args->msgsize);
+		if (! message) {
+			LOG_ERR("mq_send error: failed to allocate stdin message buffer: details %s", strerror(errno));
+			return 1;
+		}
+
+		ssize_t message_length = read(STDIN_FILENO, message, args->msgsize);
+		if (message_length == -1) {
+			LOG_ERR("mq_send error: failed to read from stdin: details: %s", strerror(errno));
+			return 1;
+		}
+		/* Send message*/
+		ret = mq_send(queue, message, message_length, args->priority);
+		free(message);
+	}
+	// Otherwise use the message argument
+	else {
+		/* Send message*/
+		ret = mq_send(queue, args->message, args->msglen, args->priority);
+	}
+
 	if (0 != ret) {
 		LOG_ERR("mq_send error: %s", strerror(errno));
 		ret = 1;