diff --git a/imports/NeoChat/Dialog/UserDetailDialog.qml b/imports/NeoChat/Dialog/UserDetailDialog.qml
index a82ca490d..ef86045c8 100644
--- a/imports/NeoChat/Dialog/UserDetailDialog.qml
+++ b/imports/NeoChat/Dialog/UserDetailDialog.qml
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ Kirigami.OverlaySheet {
                 text: i18n("Open a private chat")
                 icon.name: "document-send"
                 onTriggered: {
-                    Controller.activeConnection.requestDirectChat(user)
+                    Controller.openOrCreateDirectChat(user);
                     root.close()
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/controller.cpp b/src/controller.cpp
index 51717d04d..6ea2760a6 100644
--- a/src/controller.cpp
+++ b/src/controller.cpp
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 #include "neochatuser.h"
 #include "settings.h"
 #include "utils.h"
+#include "roommanager.h"
 #include <KStandardShortcut>
 
 #ifndef Q_OS_ANDROID
@@ -592,6 +593,17 @@ void Controller::joinRoom(const QString &alias)
     });
 }
 
+void Controller::openOrCreateDirectChat(NeoChatUser *user)
+{
+    const auto existing = activeConnection()->directChats();
+
+    if (existing.contains(user)) {
+        RoomManager::instance().enterRoom(static_cast<NeoChatRoom *>(activeConnection()->room(existing.value(user))));
+        return;
+    }
+    activeConnection()->requestDirectChat(user);
+}
+
 QString Controller::formatByteSize(double size, int precision) const
 {
     return KFormat().formatByteSize(size, precision);
diff --git a/src/controller.h b/src/controller.h
index 877f1f1f2..949d3de29 100644
--- a/src/controller.h
+++ b/src/controller.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ class QNetworkConfigurationManager;
 #include "user.h"
 
 class NeoChatRoom;
+class NeoChatUser;
 class QQuickWindow;
 
 using namespace Quotient;
@@ -86,6 +87,8 @@ public:
 
     Q_INVOKABLE QString formatDuration(quint64 msecs, KFormat::DurationFormatOptions options = KFormat::DefaultDuration) const;
     Q_INVOKABLE QString formatByteSize(double size, int precision = 1) const;
+
+    Q_INVOKABLE void openOrCreateDirectChat(NeoChatUser *user);
 private:
     explicit Controller(QObject *parent = nullptr);
     ~Controller() override;