diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 3f9c70c..8dcb54d 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "meshcore"
-version = "2.3.2"
+version = "2.3.3"
 authors = [
   { name="Florent de Lamotte", email="florent@frizoncorrea.fr" },
   { name="Alex Wolden", email="awolden@gmail.com" },
diff --git a/src/meshcore/commands/messaging.py b/src/meshcore/commands/messaging.py
index 29bded0..1150e6c 100644
--- a/src/meshcore/commands/messaging.py
+++ b/src/meshcore/commands/messaging.py
@@ -269,6 +269,8 @@ class MessagingCommands(CommandHandlerBase):
                 scope_key = b"\0"*16
             else:
                 logger.debug(f"Setting scope from string {scope}")
+                if scope[0] != "#":     # no hashtag as first char
+                    scope = "#" + scope # adding hashtag
                 scope_key = sha256(scope.encode("utf-8")).digest()[0:16]
         elif isinstance (scope, bytes): # scope has been sent directly as byte
                 logger.debug(f"Directly setting scope to {scope}")