diff --git a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Actions/ChatsActions.swift b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Actions/ChatsActions.swift
index e4a720b..debeb1e 100644
--- a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Actions/ChatsActions.swift
+++ b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Actions/ChatsActions.swift
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 enum ChatsAction: Codable {
     case chatsListUpdated(chats: [Chat])
+
+    case startChat(accountJid: String, participantJid: String)
 }
diff --git a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/AccountsMiddleware.swift b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/AccountsMiddleware.swift
index b341cf3..9e1b9e2 100644
--- a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/AccountsMiddleware.swift
+++ b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/AccountsMiddleware.swift
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ final class AccountsMiddleware {
                     default:
                         promise(.success(.empty))
                     }
-
                 } else {
                     promise(.success(.empty))
                 }
diff --git a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/ChatsMiddleware.swift b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/ChatsMiddleware.swift
index ade60c2..2e76ba1 100644
--- a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/ChatsMiddleware.swift
+++ b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/ChatsMiddleware.swift
@@ -3,12 +3,22 @@ import Combine
 final class ChatsMiddleware {
     static let shared = ChatsMiddleware()
 
-    func middleware(state _: AppState, action: AppAction) -> AnyPublisher<AppAction, Never> {
+    func middleware(state: AppState, action: AppAction) -> AnyPublisher<AppAction, Never> {
         switch action {
         case .databaseAction(.storedChatsLoaded(let chats)):
             return Just(.chatsAction(.chatsListUpdated(chats: chats)))
                 .eraseToAnyPublisher()
 
+        case .chatsAction(.startChat(accountJid: let accountJid, participantJid: let participantJid)):
+            return Future<AppAction, Never> { promise in
+                // find existing chat
+                let exist = state.chatsState.chats.first {
+                    $0.account == accountJid && $0.participant == participantJid
+                }
+                promise(.success(.empty))
+            }
+            .eraseToAnyPublisher()
+
         default:
             return Empty().eraseToAnyPublisher()
         }
diff --git a/ConversationsClassic/View/Screens/ChatsListScreen.swift b/ConversationsClassic/View/Screens/ChatsListScreen.swift
index 722dc70..39c93c6 100644
--- a/ConversationsClassic/View/Screens/ChatsListScreen.swift
+++ b/ConversationsClassic/View/Screens/ChatsListScreen.swift
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ private struct ChatsRow: View {
         }
         .sharedListRow()
         .onTapGesture {
-            // state.startChat(chat)
+            store.dispatch(.chatsAction(.startChat(accountJid: chat.account, participantJid: chat.participant)))
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/ConversationsClassic/View/Screens/ContactsScreen.swift b/ConversationsClassic/View/Screens/ContactsScreen.swift
index e60809a..40cf0ea 100644
--- a/ConversationsClassic/View/Screens/ContactsScreen.swift
+++ b/ConversationsClassic/View/Screens/ContactsScreen.swift
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ private struct ContactsScreenRow: View {
         }
         .sharedListRow()
         .onTapGesture {
-            // state.startChat(roster)
+            store.dispatch(.chatsAction(.startChat(accountJid: roster.bareJid, participantJid: roster.contactBareJid)))
         }
         .onLongPressGesture {
             isShowingMenu.toggle()
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ private struct ContactsScreenRow: View {
         }
         .contextMenu {
             Button(L10n.Contacts.sendMessage, systemImage: "message") {
-                // state.startChat(roster)
+                store.dispatch(.chatsAction(.startChat(accountJid: roster.bareJid, participantJid: roster.contactBareJid)))
             }
             Divider()