diff --git a/protocol/messenger.go b/protocol/messenger.go
index fca58caf7..092d18013 100644
--- a/protocol/messenger.go
+++ b/protocol/messenger.go
@@ -1234,14 +1234,11 @@ func (m *Messenger) Contacts() []*Contact {
 }
 
 // GetContactByID assumes pubKey includes 0x prefix
-func (m *Messenger) GetContactByID(pubKey string) (*Contact, error) {
+func (m *Messenger) GetContactByID(pubKey string) *Contact {
 	m.mutex.Lock()
 	defer m.mutex.Unlock()
-	contact, ok := m.allContacts[pubKey]
-	if !ok {
-		return nil, errors.New("no contact found")
-	}
-	return contact, nil
+
+	return m.allContacts[pubKey]
 }
 
 // ReSendChatMessage pulls a message from the database and sends it again
diff --git a/services/ext/api.go b/services/ext/api.go
index fe9356c48..7da2a6537 100644
--- a/services/ext/api.go
+++ b/services/ext/api.go
@@ -260,6 +260,10 @@ func (api *PublicAPI) Contacts(parent context.Context) []*protocol.Contact {
 	return api.service.messenger.Contacts()
 }
 
+func (api *PublicAPI) GetContactByID(parent context.Context, id string) *protocol.Contact {
+	return api.service.messenger.GetContactByID(id)
+}
+
 func (api *PublicAPI) RemoveFilters(parent context.Context, chats []*transport.Filter) error {
 	return api.service.messenger.RemoveFilters(chats)
 }