diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/Cache.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/Cache.java
index 7bd979c..67bb5e2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/Cache.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/Cache.java
@@ -16,11 +16,13 @@ public class Cache
 {
 
 
+    // todo: make this compatible with the message listener's regex
+    private static final String botPrefix = "hideko";
     private static final Logger logger = new Logger(Cache.class);
     private static ConfigurationSource configurationSource = null;
     private static DatabaseSource databaseSource = null;
     private static boolean verbose = false;
-    private static MessageLogger verbosityLogger;
+    private static MessageLogger verbosityLogger = null;
     private static final long botMaintainerId = 979809420714332260L;
     private final static String expiryTimestampFormat = "yy/MM/dd HH:mm:ss";
 
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ public class Cache
     private final static long expiryTimeSeconds = 15L;
 
     // used to count e.g. uptime
-    private static LocalDateTime startupTime;
+    private static LocalDateTime startupTime = null;
 
     private final static String execPath = System.getProperty("user.dir");
 
@@ -243,4 +245,11 @@ public class Cache
     public static void setConfigurationSource(ConfigurationSource configurationSource)
     { Cache.configurationSource = configurationSource; }
 
+    /**
+     * Get the bot's prefix
+     *
+     * @return a String of the bot's prefix.
+     */
+    public static String getBotPrefix() { return botPrefix; }
+
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/commands/base/BotInfo.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/commands/base/BotInfo.java
index 4f3fab9..5fd0702 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/commands/base/BotInfo.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/commands/base/BotInfo.java
@@ -24,8 +24,10 @@ public class BotInfo
 
         // help field
         long ownerId = Cache.getBotOwnerId();
+        String prefix = Cache.getBotPrefix();
         embedBuilder.addField("Getting started",
-                "This instance is run by <@" + ownerId + ">.\nType `/help` for help! ",
+                "This instance is run by <@" + ownerId + ">.\n" +
+                        "Type `/help` for help! The bot prefix is `" + prefix + "`.",
                 false);
 
         // type-specific commands list field