diff --git a/README b/README
index 7defff7..6ac76a1 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -20,3 +20,5 @@ Example pattern: ^\S+-\d+ is requesting assistance\.$
 Matching public messages will use priority_sound_command instead of pub_sound_command.
 Use /set priority_messages_file to change the file path if needed.
 Reload the regex file with: /sound priority_reload
+Check a message against patterns with: /sound priority_check <message>
+Use /set priority_sound_flood to control priority alert cooldown.
diff --git a/sound.pl b/sound.pl
index ccfda5a..47fe269 100755
--- a/sound.pl
+++ b/sound.pl
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ $VERSION = '0.0.3';
 
 my $flood_protect = 1;
 my $sound_tag;
+my $priority_flood_protect = 1;
+my $priority_sound_tag;
 my $priority_patterns_ref = [];
 my $priority_patterns_mtime = -1;
 my $priority_patterns_file = '';
@@ -92,12 +94,18 @@ sub priority_reload {
 
 sub sound_command {
         my ($data, $server, $witem) = @_;
-        my $command = $data // '';
+        my $command = defined $data ? $data : '';
         if ($command =~ /^\s*priority_reload\s*$/i) {
                 priority_reload();
                 return;
         }
-        Irssi::print("Usage: /sound priority_reload");
+        if ($command =~ /^\s*priority_check\s+(.+?)\s*$/i) {
+                my $message = $1;
+                my $isMatch = message_is_priority($message) ? "yes" : "no";
+                Irssi::print("Priority match: $isMatch");
+                return;
+        }
+        Irssi::print("Usage: /sound priority_reload | /sound priority_check <message>");
 }
 
 sub sound_overflow_timeout() {
@@ -105,6 +113,11 @@ sub sound_overflow_timeout() {
     Irssi::timeout_remove($sound_tag);
 }
 
+sub priority_sound_overflow_timeout() {
+    $priority_flood_protect = 1;
+    Irssi::timeout_remove($priority_sound_tag);
+}
+
 
 sub join_msg {
         my ($server,$msg,$nick,$address,$target) = @_;
@@ -167,13 +180,13 @@ sub pub_msg {
   } else {
       if (message_is_priority($msg)) {
           if (my $prioritycmd = Irssi::settings_get_str("priority_sound_command")) {
-              if ($flood_protect) {
-                  my $sound_flood = Irssi::settings_get_int('sound_flood');
-                  $sound_flood = 1000 if $sound_flood < 0;
-                  Irssi::timeout_remove($sound_tag);
-                  $sound_tag = Irssi::timeout_add($sound_flood, 'sound_overflow_timeout', undef);
+              if ($priority_flood_protect) {
+                  my $priority_sound_flood = Irssi::settings_get_int('priority_sound_flood');
+                  $priority_sound_flood = 1000 if $priority_sound_flood < 0;
+                  Irssi::timeout_remove($priority_sound_tag);
+                  $priority_sound_tag = Irssi::timeout_add($priority_sound_flood, 'priority_sound_overflow_timeout', undef);
                   system($prioritycmd);
-            $flood_protect = 0;
+            $priority_flood_protect = 0;
           }
           }
           return;
@@ -340,6 +353,7 @@ $window->{refnum} != $dest->{window}->{refnum})) {
 #add settings and defaults
 Irssi::settings_add_bool("lookandfeel", "sounds", 1);
 Irssi::settings_add_int("lookandfeel", "sound_flood", 250);
+Irssi::settings_add_int("lookandfeel", "priority_sound_flood", 250);
 Irssi::settings_add_str("misc", "join_sound_command",
 "play -qnV0 synth tri 1500 tri 1800 delay 0 .12 fade h 0 .2 remix - norm -15 &> /dev/null&");
 Irssi::settings_add_str("misc", "part_sound_command",