diff --git a/chatmastermind/commands/question.py b/chatmastermind/commands/question.py
index 4936d8f..d143792 100644
--- a/chatmastermind/commands/question.py
+++ b/chatmastermind/commands/question.py
@@ -3,11 +3,52 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from itertools import zip_longest
 from ..configuration import Config
 from ..chat import ChatDB
-from ..message import Message, MessageFilter, Question, source_code
+from ..message import Message, MessageFilter, MessageError, Question, source_code
 from ..ai_factory import create_ai
 from ..ai import AI, AIResponse
 
 
+def add_file_as_text(question_parts: list[str], file: str) -> None:
+    """
+    Add the given file as plain text to the question part list.
+    If the file is a Message, add the answer.
+    """
+    file_path = Path(file)
+    content: str
+    try:
+        message = Message.from_file(file_path)
+        if message and message.answer:
+            content = message.answer
+    except MessageError:
+        with open(file) as r:
+            content = r.read().strip()
+    if len(content) > 0:
+        question_parts.append(content)
+
+
+def add_file_as_code(question_parts: list[str], file: str) -> None:
+    """
+    Add all source code from the given file. If no code segments can be extracted,
+    the whole content is added as source code segment. If the file is a Message,
+    extract the source code from the answer.
+    """
+    file_path = Path(file)
+    content: str
+    try:
+        message = Message.from_file(file_path)
+        if message and message.answer:
+            content = message.answer
+    except MessageError:
+        with open(file) as r:
+            content = r.read().strip()
+    # extract and add source code
+    code_parts = source_code(content, include_delims=True)
+    if len(code_parts) > 0:
+        question_parts += code_parts
+    else:
+        question_parts.append(f"```\n{content}\n```")
+
+
 def create_message(chat: ChatDB, args: argparse.Namespace) -> Message:
     """
     Creates (and writes) a new message from the given arguments.
@@ -17,26 +58,13 @@ def create_message(chat: ChatDB, args: argparse.Namespace) -> Message:
     text_files = args.source_text if args.source_text is not None else []
     code_files = args.source_code if args.source_code is not None else []
 
-    for question, source, code in zip_longest(question_list, text_files, code_files, fillvalue=None):
+    for question, text_file, code_file in zip_longest(question_list, text_files, code_files, fillvalue=None):
         if question is not None and len(question.strip()) > 0:
             question_parts.append(question)
-        if source is not None and len(source) > 0:
-            with open(source) as r:
-                content = r.read().strip()
-                if len(content) > 0:
-                    question_parts.append(content)
-        if code is not None and len(code) > 0:
-            with open(code) as r:
-                content = r.read().strip()
-                if len(content) == 0:
-                    continue
-                # try to extract and add source code
-                code_parts = source_code(content, include_delims=True)
-                if len(code_parts) > 0:
-                    question_parts += code_parts
-                # if there's none, add the whole file
-                else:
-                    question_parts.append(f"```\n{content}\n```")
+        if text_file is not None and len(text_file) > 0:
+            add_file_as_text(question_parts, text_file)
+        if code_file is not None and len(code_file) > 0:
+            add_file_as_code(question_parts, code_file)
 
     full_question = '\n\n'.join(question_parts)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_question_cmd.py b/tests/test_question_cmd.py
index 40ea4d8..b8e7874 100644
--- a/tests/test_question_cmd.py
+++ b/tests/test_question_cmd.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import tempfile
 from pathlib import Path
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock
 from chatmastermind.commands.question import create_message
-from chatmastermind.message import Message, Question
+from chatmastermind.message import Message, Question, Answer
 from chatmastermind.chat import ChatDB
 
 
@@ -20,6 +20,12 @@ class TestMessageCreate(unittest.TestCase):
         self.cache_path = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
         self.chat = ChatDB.from_dir(cache_path=Path(self.cache_path.name),
                                     db_path=Path(self.db_path.name))
+        # create some messages
+        self.message_text = Message(Question("What is this?"),
+                                    Answer("It is pure text"))
+        self.message_code = Message(Question("What is this?"),
+                                    Answer("Text\n```\nIt is embedded code\n```\ntext"))
+        self.chat.add_to_db([self.message_text, self.message_code])
         # create arguments mock
         self.args = MagicMock(spec=argparse.Namespace)
         self.args.source_text = None
@@ -160,3 +166,29 @@ This is embedded source code.
 This is embedded source code.
 ```
 """))
+
+    def test_single_question_with_text_only_message(self) -> None:
+        self.args.ask = ["What is this?"]
+        self.args.source_text = [f"{self.chat.messages[0].file_path}"]
+        message = create_message(self.chat, self.args)
+        self.assertIsInstance(message, Message)
+        # file contains no source code (only text)
+        # -> don't expect any in the question
+        self.assertEqual(len(message.question.source_code()), 0)
+        self.assertEqual(message.question, Question(f"""What is this?
+
+{self.message_text.answer}"""))
+
+    def test_single_question_with_message_and_embedded_code(self) -> None:
+        self.args.ask = ["What is this?"]
+        self.args.source_text = [f"{self.chat.messages[1].file_path}"]
+        message = create_message(self.chat, self.args)
+        self.assertIsInstance(message, Message)
+        # file contains no source code (only text)
+        # -> don't expect any in the question
+        self.assertEqual(len(message.question.source_code()), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(message.question, Question("""What is this?
+
+```
+It is embedded code
+```"""))