diff --git a/src/controller.cpp b/src/controller.cpp
index 5278c23d9..788c9c98a 100644
--- a/src/controller.cpp
+++ b/src/controller.cpp
@@ -382,20 +382,6 @@ void Controller::joinRoom(const QString &alias)
     RoomManager::instance().joinRoom(m_connection, alias, QStringList{knownServer});
 }
 
-void Controller::openOrCreateDirectChat(User *user)
-{
-    const auto existing = activeConnection()->directChats();
-
-    if (existing.contains(user)) {
-        const auto &room = static_cast<NeoChatRoom *>(activeConnection()->room(existing.value(user)));
-        if (room) {
-            RoomManager::instance().enterRoom(room);
-            return;
-        }
-    }
-    activeConnection()->requestDirectChat(user);
-}
-
 QString Controller::formatByteSize(double size, int precision) const
 {
     return QLocale().formattedDataSize(size, precision);
diff --git a/src/controller.h b/src/controller.h
index 6e9ea5297..3fadc8ddc 100644
--- a/src/controller.h
+++ b/src/controller.h
@@ -126,13 +126,6 @@ public:
      */
     Q_INVOKABLE void joinRoom(const QString &alias);
 
-    /**
-     * @brief Join a direct chat with the given user.
-     *
-     * If a direct chat with the user doesn't exist one is created and then joined.
-     */
-    Q_INVOKABLE void openOrCreateDirectChat(Quotient::User *user);
-
     [[nodiscard]] bool supportSystemTray() const;
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/neochatconnection.cpp b/src/neochatconnection.cpp
index 9d4f3c0d2..0c8d8e4bb 100644
--- a/src/neochatconnection.cpp
+++ b/src/neochatconnection.cpp
@@ -220,4 +220,18 @@ void NeoChatConnection::createSpace(const QString &name, const QString &topic, c
     });
 }
 
+void NeoChatConnection::openOrCreateDirectChat(User *user)
+{
+    const auto existing = directChats();
+
+    if (existing.contains(user)) {
+        const auto room = static_cast<NeoChatRoom *>(this->room(existing.value(user)));
+        if (room) {
+            RoomManager::instance().enterRoom(room);
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+    requestDirectChat(user);
+}
+
 #include "moc_neochatconnection.cpp"
diff --git a/src/neochatconnection.h b/src/neochatconnection.h
index 82a8ecae0..6dd41cb07 100644
--- a/src/neochatconnection.h
+++ b/src/neochatconnection.h
@@ -61,6 +61,13 @@ public:
      */
     Q_INVOKABLE void createSpace(const QString &name, const QString &topic, const QString &parent = {}, bool setChildParent = false);
 
+    /**
+     * @brief Join a direct chat with the given user.
+     *
+     * If a direct chat with the user doesn't exist one is created and then joined.
+     */
+    Q_INVOKABLE void openOrCreateDirectChat(Quotient::User *user);
+
 Q_SIGNALS:
     void labelChanged();
 };
diff --git a/src/qml/UserDetailDialog.qml b/src/qml/UserDetailDialog.qml
index a5d58f4b8..3135315fa 100644
--- a/src/qml/UserDetailDialog.qml
+++ b/src/qml/UserDetailDialog.qml
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ Kirigami.Dialog {
                 text: i18n("Open a private chat")
                 icon.name: "document-send"
                 onTriggered: {
-                    Controller.openOrCreateDirectChat(root.user.object);
+                    root.room.connection.openOrCreateDirectChat(root.user.object)
                     root.close()
                 }
             }