diff --git a/zerver/lib/actions.py b/zerver/lib/actions.py
index 4524fbda8f..bb667bc33e 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/actions.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/actions.py
@@ -208,10 +208,10 @@ def log_message(message):
 
 # Helper function. Defaults here are overriden by those set in do_send_messages
 def do_send_message(message, rendered_content = None, no_log = False, stream = None):
-    do_send_messages([{'message': message,
-                       'rendered_content': rendered_content,
-                       'no_log': no_log,
-                       'stream': stream}])
+    return do_send_messages([{'message': message,
+                              'rendered_content': rendered_content,
+                              'no_log': no_log,
+                              'stream': stream}])[0]
 
 def do_send_messages(messages):
     # Filter out messages which didn't pass internal_prep_message properly
@@ -303,6 +303,8 @@ def do_send_messages(messages):
                 data['stream_name'] = message['stream'].name
         tornado_callbacks.send_notification(data)
 
+    return [message['message'].id for message in messages]
+
 def create_stream_if_needed(realm, stream_name, invite_only=False):
     (stream, created) = Stream.objects.get_or_create(
         realm=realm, name__iexact=stream_name,
@@ -377,8 +379,7 @@ def check_send_message(*args, **kwargs):
     if(type(message) != dict):
         assert isinstance(message, basestring)
         return message
-    do_send_messages([message])
-    return None
+    return do_send_messages([message])[0]
 
 # check_message:
 # Returns message ready for sending with do_send_message on success or the error message (string) on error.
diff --git a/zerver/views.py b/zerver/views.py
index 7b675bd99d..a3aa23a9bd 100644
--- a/zerver/views.py
+++ b/zerver/views.py
@@ -1210,9 +1210,9 @@ def send_message_backend(request, user_profile,
                              subject_name, message_content, forged=forged,
                              forged_timestamp = request.POST.get('time'),
                              forwarder_user_profile=user_profile, realm=realm)
-    if ret is not None:
+    if isinstance(ret, basestring):
         return json_error(ret)
-    return json_success()
+    return json_success({"id": ret})
 
 @has_request_variables
 def render_message_backend(request, user_profile, content=REQ):
@@ -1795,7 +1795,7 @@ def api_jira_webhook(request):
     subject = elide_subject(subject)
 
     ret = check_send_message(user_profile, get_client("API"), "stream", [stream], subject, content)
-    if ret is not None:
+    if isinstance(ret, basestring):
         return json_error(ret)
     return json_success()
 
@@ -1872,7 +1872,7 @@ def api_pivotal_webhook(request):
     subject = elide_subject(subject)
 
     ret = check_send_message(user_profile, get_client("API"), "stream", [stream], subject, content)
-    if ret is not None:
+    if isinstance(ret, basestring):
         return json_error(ret)
     return json_success()
 
@@ -1924,7 +1924,7 @@ def api_beanstalk_webhook(request, user_profile,
     subject = elide_subject(subject)
 
     ret = check_send_message(user_profile, get_client("API"), "stream", ["commits"], subject, content)
-    if ret is not None:
+    if isinstance(ret, basestring):
         return json_error(ret)
     return json_success()
 
@@ -1963,7 +1963,7 @@ def api_newrelic_webhook(request, alert=REQ(converter=json_to_dict, default=None
 
     subject = elide_subject(subject)
     ret = check_send_message(user_profile, get_client("API"), "stream", [stream], subject, content)
-    if ret is not None:
+    if isinstance(ret, basestring):
         return json_error(ret)
     return json_success()