diff --git a/sucks/__init__.py b/sucks/__init__.py
index 2b2ac6f..f715054 100644
--- a/sucks/__init__.py
+++ b/sucks/__init__.py
@@ -582,10 +582,11 @@ class EcoVacsIOT():
 
    
     def _handle_ctl(self, action, message):
-        resp = self._ctl_to_dict(action, message['resp'])
-        if resp is not None:
-            for s in self.ctl_subscribers:
-                s(resp)
+        if not message == {}:
+            resp = self._ctl_to_dict(action, message['resp'])
+            if resp is not None:
+                for s in self.ctl_subscribers:
+                    s(resp)
 
 
     def _ctl_to_dict(self, action, xmlstring):
@@ -709,6 +710,7 @@ class EcoVacsXMPP(ClientXMPP):
 class VacBotCommand:
     ACTION = {
         'forward': 'forward',
+        'backward': 'backward',
         'left': 'SpinLeft',
         'right': 'SpinRight',
         'turn_around': 'TurnAround',
diff --git a/sucks/cli.py b/sucks/cli.py
index bf77453..7e49704 100644
--- a/sucks/cli.py
+++ b/sucks/cli.py
@@ -215,9 +215,13 @@ def run(actions, debug):
         vacbot = VacBot(api.uid, api.REALM, api.resource, api.user_access_token, vacuum, config['continent'])
                     #vacbot.connect_and_wait_until_ready()(
         
-        #vacbot.run(Clean('spotarea', 'normal', 'start', '2'))
-        vacbot.request_all_statuses()
-        
+        vacbot.run(Move('backward'))
+        vacbot.run(Move('backward'))
+        vacbot.run(Move('stop'))
+        #vacbot.run(Clean('spotarea', 'normal', 'start', '0'))
+     
+        #vacbot.request_all_statuses()
+
         # for action in actions:
         #    click.echo("performing " + str(action.vac_command))
         #    vacbot.run(action.vac_command)
diff --git a/tests/test_commands.py b/tests/test_commands.py
index a3039b3..6ed18cc 100644
--- a/tests/test_commands.py
+++ b/tests/test_commands.py
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ def test_move_command():
     c = Move(action='forward')
     assert_equals(ElementTree.tostring(c.to_xml()),
                   b'<ctl td="Move"><move action="forward" /></ctl>')
+    c = Move(action='backward')
+    assert_equals(ElementTree.tostring(c.to_xml()),
+                  b'<ctl td="Move"><move action="backward" /></ctl>')
     c = Move(action='stop')
     assert_equals(ElementTree.tostring(c.to_xml()),
                   b'<ctl td="Move"><move action="stop" /></ctl>')