diff --git a/app/soapbox/actions/chats.js b/app/soapbox/actions/chats.js
index e0eb762f4..bdd8d8a85 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/actions/chats.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/actions/chats.js
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ export const CHAT_MESSAGE_SEND_REQUEST = 'CHAT_MESSAGE_SEND_REQUEST';
 export const CHAT_MESSAGE_SEND_SUCCESS = 'CHAT_MESSAGE_SEND_SUCCESS';
 export const CHAT_MESSAGE_SEND_FAIL    = 'CHAT_MESSAGE_SEND_FAIL';
 
+export const CHAT_FETCH_REQUEST = 'CHAT_FETCH_REQUEST';
+export const CHAT_FETCH_SUCCESS = 'CHAT_FETCH_SUCCESS';
+export const CHAT_FETCH_FAIL    = 'CHAT_FETCH_FAIL';
+
 export function fetchChats() {
   return (dispatch, getState) => {
     dispatch({ type: CHATS_FETCH_REQUEST });
@@ -95,3 +99,14 @@ export function toggleMainWindow() {
     return dispatch(changeSetting(['chats', 'mainWindow'], state));
   };
 }
+
+export function startChat(accountId) {
+  return (dispatch, getState) => {
+    dispatch({ type: CHAT_FETCH_REQUEST, accountId });
+    return api(getState).post(`/api/v1/pleroma/chats/by-account-id/${accountId}`).then(({ data }) => {
+      dispatch({ type: CHAT_FETCH_SUCCESS, chat: data });
+    }).catch(error => {
+      dispatch({ type: CHAT_FETCH_FAIL, accountId, error });
+    });
+  };
+}
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/account/components/header.js b/app/soapbox/features/account/components/header.js
index 9d24bf0a1..4875dd8a0 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/account/components/header.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/account/components/header.js
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ class Header extends ImmutablePureComponent {
               <div className='account__header__extra__buttons'>
                 <ActionButton account={account} />
                 {account.get('id') !== me &&
-                  <Button className='button button-alternative-2' onClick={this.props.onDirect}>
+                  <Button className='button-alternative-2' onClick={this.props.onMessage}>
                     <FormattedMessage
                       id='account.message' defaultMessage='Message' values={{
                         name: account.get('acct'),
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/components/header.js b/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/components/header.js
index 7f6d69046..5f775743b 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/components/header.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/components/header.js
@@ -72,6 +72,11 @@ export default class Header extends ImmutablePureComponent {
     this.props.onUnblockDomain(domain);
   }
 
+  handleMessage = () => {
+    this.props.onMessage(this.props.account, this.context.router.history);
+  }
+
+
   // handleEndorseToggle = () => {
   //   this.props.onEndorseToggle(this.props.account);
   // }
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/containers/header_container.js b/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/containers/header_container.js
index 7049ac917..f254818d3 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/containers/header_container.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/containers/header_container.js
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import { blockDomain, unblockDomain } from '../../../actions/domain_blocks';
 import { defineMessages, injectIntl, FormattedMessage } from 'react-intl';
 import { List as ImmutableList } from 'immutable';
 import { getSettings } from 'soapbox/actions/settings';
+import { startChat } from 'soapbox/actions/chats';
 
 const messages = defineMessages({
   unfollowConfirm: { id: 'confirmations.unfollow.confirm', defaultMessage: 'Unfollow' },
@@ -133,6 +134,9 @@ const mapDispatchToProps = (dispatch, { intl }) => ({
     }));
   },
 
+  onMessage(account, router) {
+    dispatch(startChat(account.get('id')));
+  },
 });
 
 export default injectIntl(connect(makeMapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps)(Header));