diff --git a/src/chatstates.rs b/src/chatstates.rs
index 6ec2e22d..8941408d 100644
--- a/src/chatstates.rs
+++ b/src/chatstates.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use minidom::Element;
 
 use error::Error;
+use super::MessagePayload;
 
 use ns::CHATSTATES_NS;
 
@@ -13,6 +14,8 @@ pub enum ChatState {
     Paused,
 }
 
+impl MessagePayload for ChatState {}
+
 pub fn parse_chatstate(root: &Element) -> Result<ChatState, Error> {
     for _ in root.children() {
         return Err(Error::ParseError("Unknown child in chatstate element."));
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index e0798c12..8914a6c6 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -12,3 +12,18 @@ pub mod jingle;
 pub mod ping;
 pub mod chatstates;
 pub mod ibb;
+
+use std::fmt::Debug;
+use minidom::Element;
+
+pub trait MessagePayload: Debug {}
+
+pub fn parse_message_payload(elem: &Element) -> Option<Box<MessagePayload>> {
+    if let Ok(body) = body::parse_body(elem) {
+        Some(Box::new(body))
+    } else if let Ok(chatstate) = chatstates::parse_chatstate(elem) {
+        Some(Box::new(chatstate))
+    } else {
+        None
+    }
+}