diff --git a/src/groupchat_commands.c b/src/groupchat_commands.c
index 6a76811..430b0c3 100644
--- a/src/groupchat_commands.c
+++ b/src/groupchat_commands.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ void cmd_disconnect(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*ar
 void cmd_ignore(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[MAX_STR_SIZE])
 {
     if (argc < 1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0, "Peer name must be specified.");
+        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0, "Peer name or public key must be specified.");
         return;
     }
 
@@ -89,8 +89,10 @@ void cmd_ignore(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[
     uint32_t peer_id;
 
     if (group_get_nick_peer_id(self->num, nick, &peer_id) == -1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name '%s'.", nick);
-        return;
+        if (group_get_public_key_peer_id(self->num, nick, &peer_id) == -1) {
+            line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name or public key.");
+            return;
+        }
     }
 
     TOX_ERR_GROUP_TOGGLE_IGNORE err;
@@ -118,7 +120,7 @@ void cmd_ignore(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[
 void cmd_kick(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[MAX_STR_SIZE])
 {
     if (argc < 1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0, "Peer name must be specified.");
+        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0, "Peer name or public key must be specified.");
         return;
     }
 
@@ -127,8 +129,10 @@ void cmd_kick(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[MA
     uint32_t target_peer_id;
 
     if (group_get_nick_peer_id(self->num, nick, &target_peer_id) == -1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name '%s'.", nick);
-        return;
+        if (group_get_public_key_peer_id(self->num, nick, &target_peer_id) == -1) {
+            line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name or public key.");
+            return;
+        }
     }
 
     TOX_ERR_GROUP_MOD_KICK_PEER err;
@@ -193,7 +197,7 @@ void cmd_list(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[MA
 void cmd_mod(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[MAX_STR_SIZE])
 {
     if (argc < 1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0, "Peer name must be specified.");
+        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0, "Peer name or public key must be specified.");
         return;
     }
 
@@ -201,8 +205,10 @@ void cmd_mod(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[MAX
     uint32_t target_peer_id;
 
     if (group_get_nick_peer_id(self->num, nick, &target_peer_id) == -1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name '%s'.", nick);
-        return;
+        if (group_get_public_key_peer_id(self->num, nick, &target_peer_id) == -1) {
+            line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name or public key.");
+            return;
+        }
     }
 
     TOX_ERR_GROUP_SELF_QUERY s_err;
@@ -247,7 +253,7 @@ void cmd_mod(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[MAX
 void cmd_unmod(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[MAX_STR_SIZE])
 {
     if (argc < 1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0, "Peer name must be specified.");
+        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0, "Peer name or public key must be specified.");
         return;
     }
 
@@ -255,8 +261,10 @@ void cmd_unmod(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[M
     uint32_t target_peer_id;
 
     if (group_get_nick_peer_id(self->num, nick, &target_peer_id) == -1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name '%s'.", nick);
-        return;
+        if (group_get_public_key_peer_id(self->num, nick, &target_peer_id) == -1) {
+            line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name or public key.");
+            return;
+        }
     }
 
     TOX_ERR_GROUP_SELF_QUERY s_err;
@@ -439,7 +447,7 @@ void cmd_set_privacy(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*a
 void cmd_silence(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[MAX_STR_SIZE])
 {
     if (argc < 1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0, "Peer name must be specified.");
+        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0, "Peer name or public key must be specified.");
         return;
     }
 
@@ -447,8 +455,10 @@ void cmd_silence(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)
     uint32_t target_peer_id;
 
     if (group_get_nick_peer_id(self->num, nick, &target_peer_id) == -1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name '%s'.", nick);
-        return;
+        if (group_get_public_key_peer_id(self->num, nick, &target_peer_id) == -1) {
+            line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name or public key.");
+            return;
+        }
     }
 
     TOX_ERR_GROUP_SELF_QUERY s_err;
@@ -493,7 +503,7 @@ void cmd_silence(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)
 void cmd_unsilence(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[MAX_STR_SIZE])
 {
     if (argc < 1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0, "Peer name must be specified.");
+        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0, "Peer name or public key must be specified.");
         return;
     }
 
@@ -501,8 +511,10 @@ void cmd_unsilence(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*arg
     uint32_t target_peer_id;
 
     if (group_get_nick_peer_id(self->num, nick, &target_peer_id) == -1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name '%s'.", nick);
-        return;
+        if (group_get_public_key_peer_id(self->num, nick, &target_peer_id) == -1) {
+            line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name or public key.");
+            return;
+        }
     }
 
     if (tox_group_peer_get_role(m, self->num, target_peer_id, NULL) != TOX_GROUP_ROLE_OBSERVER) {
@@ -639,8 +651,10 @@ void cmd_unignore(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv
     uint32_t peer_id;
 
     if (group_get_nick_peer_id(self->num, nick, &peer_id) == -1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name '%s'.", nick);
-        return;
+        if (group_get_public_key_peer_id(self->num, nick, &peer_id) == -1) {
+            line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name or public key.");
+            return;
+        }
     }
 
     TOX_ERR_GROUP_TOGGLE_IGNORE err;
@@ -683,8 +697,10 @@ void cmd_whois(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[M
     uint32_t peer_id;
 
     if (group_get_nick_peer_id(self->num, nick, &peer_id) == -1) {
-        line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name '%s'.", nick);
-        return;
+        if (group_get_public_key_peer_id(self->num, nick, &peer_id) == -1) {
+            line_info_add(self, false, NULL, NULL, SYS_MSG, 0, 0,  "Invalid peer name or public key.");
+            return;
+        }
     }
 
     int peer_index = get_peer_index(self->num, peer_id);
diff --git a/src/groupchat_commands.h b/src/groupchat_commands.h
index 4199838..8a35875 100644
--- a/src/groupchat_commands.h
+++ b/src/groupchat_commands.h
@@ -45,3 +45,4 @@ void cmd_unmod(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[M
 void cmd_whois(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, int argc, char (*argv)[MAX_STR_SIZE]);
 
 #endif  /* GROUPCHAT_COMMANDS_H */
+
diff --git a/src/groupchats.c b/src/groupchats.c
index e03ba0e..a646cfd 100644
--- a/src/groupchats.c
+++ b/src/groupchats.c
@@ -465,6 +465,8 @@ static void sort_peerlist(uint32_t groupnumber)
 }
 
 /* Gets the peer_id associated with nick.
+ *
+ * Returns 0 on success.
  * Returns -1 on failure or if nick is not assigned to anyone in the group.
  */
 int group_get_nick_peer_id(uint32_t groupnumber, const char *nick, uint32_t *peer_id)
@@ -476,11 +478,50 @@ int group_get_nick_peer_id(uint32_t groupnumber, const char *nick, uint32_t *pee
     }
 
     for (size_t i = 0; i < chat->max_idx; ++i) {
-        if (chat->peer_list[i].active) {
-            if (strcmp(nick, chat->peer_list[i].name) == 0) {
-                *peer_id = chat->peer_list[i].peer_id;
-                return 0;
-            }
+        GroupPeer *peer = &chat->peer_list[i];
+
+        if (!peer->active) {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if (strcmp(nick, peer->name) == 0) {
+            *peer_id = peer->peer_id;
+            return 0;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return -1;
+}
+
+/* Gets the peer_id associated with `public_key`.
+ *
+ * Returns 0 on success.
+ * Returns -1 on failure or if `public_key` is invalid.
+ */
+int group_get_public_key_peer_id(uint32_t groupnumber, const char *public_key, uint32_t *peer_id)
+{
+    GroupChat *chat = get_groupchat(groupnumber);
+
+    if (!chat) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    char key_bin[TOX_GROUP_PEER_PUBLIC_KEY_SIZE];
+
+    if (hex_string_to_bin(public_key, strlen(public_key), key_bin, sizeof(key_bin)) == -1) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < chat->max_idx; ++i) {
+        GroupPeer *peer = &chat->peer_list[i];
+
+        if (!peer->active) {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if (memcmp(key_bin, peer->public_key, TOX_GROUP_PEER_PUBLIC_KEY_SIZE) == 0) {
+            *peer_id = peer->peer_id;
+            return 0;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/groupchats.h b/src/groupchats.h
index 488849c..663237a 100644
--- a/src/groupchats.h
+++ b/src/groupchats.h
@@ -69,7 +69,6 @@ void exit_groupchat(ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, uint32_t groupnumber, const char *p
 int init_groupchat_win(Tox *m, uint32_t groupnumber, const char *groupname, size_t length, Group_Join_Type join_type);
 void set_nick_all_groups(Tox *m, const char *new_nick, size_t length);
 void set_status_all_groups(Tox *m, uint8_t status);
-int group_get_nick_peer_id(uint32_t groupnumber, const char *nick, uint32_t *peer_id);
 int get_peer_index(uint32_t groupnumber, uint32_t peer_id);
 void groupchat_onGroupPeerExit(ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, uint32_t groupnumber, uint32_t peer_id,
                                Tox_Group_Exit_Type exit_type,
@@ -79,6 +78,20 @@ void groupchat_onGroupModeration(ToxWindow *self, Tox *m, uint32_t groupnumber,
 
 void groupchat_rejoin(ToxWindow *self, Tox *m);
 
+/* Gets the peer_id associated with nick.
+ *
+ * Returns 0 on success.
+ * Returns -1 on failure or if nick is not assigned to anyone in the group.
+ */
+int group_get_nick_peer_id(uint32_t groupnumber, const char *nick, uint32_t *peer_id);
+
+/* Gets the peer_id associated with `public_key`.
+ *
+ * Returns 0 on success.
+ * Returns -1 on failure or if `public_key` is invalid.
+ */
+int group_get_public_key_peer_id(uint32_t groupnumber, const char *public_key, uint32_t *peer_id);
+
 /* destroys and re-creates groupchat window */
 void redraw_groupchat_win(ToxWindow *self);