diff --git a/confluent/exceptions.py b/confluent/exceptions.py
index d8787d9c..c285b887 100644
--- a/confluent/exceptions.py
+++ b/confluent/exceptions.py
@@ -3,3 +3,6 @@ class ConfluentException(Exception):
 
 class NotFoundException(ConfluentException):
     pass
+
+class InvalidArgumentException(ConfluentException):
+    pass
diff --git a/confluent/httpapi.py b/confluent/httpapi.py
index debf48dd..2fa3d72d 100644
--- a/confluent/httpapi.py
+++ b/confluent/httpapi.py
@@ -227,6 +227,10 @@ def resourcehandler(env, start_response):
             start_response('404 Not found', headers)
             yield "404 - Request path not recognized"
             return
+        except exc.InvalidArgumentException:
+            start_response('400 Bad Request', headers)
+            yield '400 - Bad Request'
+            return
         start_response('200 OK', headers)
         if mimetype == 'text/html':
             for datum in _assemble_html(hdlr, resource, querydict):
diff --git a/confluent/messages.py b/confluent/messages.py
index d0c54f9f..0611502d 100644
--- a/confluent/messages.py
+++ b/confluent/messages.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 # This module implements client/server messages emitted from plugins.
 # Things are defined here to 'encourage' developers to coordinate information
 # format.  This is also how different data formats are supported
+import confluent.exceptions as exc
 import json
 
 class ConfluentMessage(object):
@@ -35,11 +36,50 @@ class ConfluentMessage(object):
             snippet += '<input type="checkbox" name="restexplorerhonorkey" '
             snippet += 'value="%s">' % (key)
         return snippet
+def get_input_message(path, operation, inputdata, nodes=None):
+    if 'power/state' in path and operation != 'retrieve':
+        return InputPowerMessage(path, nodes, inputdata)
+
+
+valid_powerstates = set([
+    'on',
+    'off',
+    'reset',
+    'boot',
+    ])
+
+
+class InputPowerMessage(ConfluentMessage):
+
+    def __init__(self, path, nodes, inputdata):
+        self.powerbynode = {}
+        if not inputdata:
+            raise exc.InvalidArgumentException()
+        if ('powerstate' not in inputdata):
+            #assume we have nested information
+            for key in nodes:
+                if key not in inputdata:
+                    raise exc.InvalidArgumentException()
+                datum = inputdata[key]
+                if ('powerstate' not in datum or
+                        datum['powerstate'] not in valid_powerstates):
+                    raise exc.InvalidArgumentException()
+                self.powerbynode[key] = datum['powerstate']
+        else: # we have a powerstate argument not by node
+            datum = inputdata
+            if ('powerstate' not in datum or
+                    datum['powerstate'] not in valid_powerstates):
+                raise exc.InvalidArgumentException()
+            for node in nodes:
+                self.powerbynode[node] = datum['powerstate']
+
+    def powerstate(self, node):
+        return self.powerbynode[node]
 
 
 class PowerState(ConfluentMessage):
 
-    def __init__(self, node, state):
+    def __init__(self, node, state, querydict=None):
         self.kvpairs = {
             node: {
                 'powerstate': { 'label': 'Power', 'value': state, }
diff --git a/confluent/pluginapi.py b/confluent/pluginapi.py
index 4f227260..bdf642f1 100644
--- a/confluent/pluginapi.py
+++ b/confluent/pluginapi.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 import confluent.interface.console as console
 import confluent.exceptions as exc
+import confluent.messages as msg
 import os
 import sys
 
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ def handle_path(path, operation, configmanager, inputdata=None):
         node, _, element = node.partition("/")
         if element not in nodeelements:
             raise exc.NotFoundException("Invalid element requested")
+        inputdata = msg.get_input_message(element, operation, inputdata, (node,))
         plugroute = nodeelements[element]
         if 'handler' in plugroute:  #fixed handler definition
             passvalue = pluginmap[plugroute['handler']].__dict__[operation](
diff --git a/plugins/hardwaremanagement/ipmi.py b/plugins/hardwaremanagement/ipmi.py
index aecc8218..98473e37 100644
--- a/plugins/hardwaremanagement/ipmi.py
+++ b/plugins/hardwaremanagement/ipmi.py
@@ -257,7 +257,9 @@ class IpmiHandler(object):
                 return msg.PowerState(node=self.node,
                                       state=power['powerstate'])
             elif 'update' == self.op:
-                self.call_ipmicmd(self.ipmicmd.set_power, self.inputdata['powerstate'])
+                powerstate = self.inputdata.powerstate(self.node)
+                #TODO: call with wait argument
+                self.call_ipmicmd(self.ipmicmd.set_power, powerstate)
                 power = self.call_ipmicmd(self.ipmicmd.get_power)
                 return msg.PowerState(node=self.node,
                                       state=power['powerstate'])