var port = chrome.runtime.connect({name: "knockknock"}); port.postMessage({joke: "Knock knock"}); port.onMessage.addListener(function(msg) { if (msg.question === "Who's there?") port.postMessage({answer: "Madame"}); else if (msg.question === "Madame who?") port.postMessage({answer: "Madame... Bovary"}); });