diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c3e69e23d8..abeae7daf6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
     "nodebb-plugin-spam-be-gone": "0.4.10",
     "nodebb-rewards-essentials": "0.0.9",
     "nodebb-theme-lavender": "3.0.15",
-    "nodebb-theme-persona": "4.1.84",
+    "nodebb-theme-persona": "4.1.85",
     "nodebb-theme-vanilla": "5.1.55",
     "nodebb-widget-essentials": "2.0.13",
     "nodemailer": "2.6.4",
diff --git a/public/language/en_GB/user.json b/public/language/en_GB/user.json
index fd6f11e250..f0cb35f615 100644
--- a/public/language/en_GB/user.json
+++ b/public/language/en_GB/user.json
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@
 	"signature": "Signature",
 	"birthday": "Birthday",
 	"chat": "Chat",
-	"chat_with": "Chat with %1",
+	"chat_with": "Continue chat with %1",
+	"new_chat_with": "Start new chat with %1",
 	"follow": "Follow",
 	"unfollow": "Unfollow",
 	"more": "More",
diff --git a/public/src/client/account/header.js b/public/src/client/account/header.js
index 1b16aec4b1..d225e2cae1 100644
--- a/public/src/client/account/header.js
+++ b/public/src/client/account/header.js
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ define('forum/account/header', [
 			});
 		});
 
+		components.get('account/new-chat').on('click', function () {
+			app.newChat(ajaxify.data.uid);
+		});
+
+
 		components.get('account/ban').on('click', banAccount);
 		components.get('account/unban').on('click', unbanAccount);
 		components.get('account/delete').on('click', deleteAccount);
diff --git a/src/controllers/accounts/profile.js b/src/controllers/accounts/profile.js
index 8ee8979b43..6bbaced751 100644
--- a/src/controllers/accounts/profile.js
+++ b/src/controllers/accounts/profile.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ var meta = require('../../meta');
 var accountHelpers = require('./helpers');
 var helpers = require('../helpers');
 var pagination = require('../../pagination');
+var messaging = require('../../messaging');
 
 var profileController = {};
 
@@ -46,8 +47,8 @@ profileController.get = function (req, res, callback) {
 			}
 
 			async.parallel({
-				isFollowing: function (next) {
-					user.isFollowing(req.uid, userData.theirid, next);
+				hasPrivateChat: function (next) {
+					messaging.hasPrivateChat(req.uid, userData.uid, next);
 				},
 				posts: function (next) {
 					posts.getPostSummariesFromSet('uid:' + userData.theirid + ':posts', req.uid, start, stop, next);
@@ -72,10 +73,9 @@ profileController.get = function (req, res, callback) {
 			userData.posts = results.posts.posts.filter(function (p) {
 				return p && parseInt(p.deleted, 10) !== 1;
 			});
-
+			userData.hasPrivateChat = results.hasPrivateChat;
 			userData.aboutme = results.aboutme;
 			userData.nextStart = results.posts.nextStart;
-			userData.isFollowing = results.isFollowing;
 			userData.breadcrumbs = helpers.buildBreadcrumbs([{text: userData.username}]);
 			userData.title = userData.username;
 			var pageCount = Math.ceil(userData.postcount / itemsPerPage);
diff --git a/src/messaging.js b/src/messaging.js
index d69e70b000..494a354da0 100644
--- a/src/messaging.js
+++ b/src/messaging.js
@@ -444,6 +444,9 @@ var userNotifications = require('./user/notifications');
 	};
 
 	Messaging.hasPrivateChat = function (uid, withUid, callback) {
+		if (parseInt(uid, 10) === parseInt(withUid, 10)) {
+			return callback(null, 0);
+		}
 		async.waterfall([
 			function (next) {
 				async.parallel({