diff --git a/protocol/messenger_contacts.go b/protocol/messenger_contacts.go
index 50fbdfa2c..e9ae7ac54 100644
--- a/protocol/messenger_contacts.go
+++ b/protocol/messenger_contacts.go
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ func (m *Messenger) AddContact(ctx context.Context, request *requests.AddContact
 
 	pubKey := request.ID.String()
 
+	ensName := request.ENSName
+
 	contact, ok := m.allContacts.Load(pubKey)
 	if !ok {
 		var err error
@@ -29,6 +31,14 @@ func (m *Messenger) AddContact(ctx context.Context, request *requests.AddContact
 		}
 	}
 
+	if ensName != "" {
+		clock := m.getTimesource().GetCurrentTime()
+		err := m.ensVerifier.ENSVerified(pubKey, ensName, clock)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
 	if err := m.addENSNameToContact(contact); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -87,12 +97,12 @@ func (m *Messenger) AddContact(ctx context.Context, request *requests.AddContact
 	}
 	m.scheduleSyncFilter(filter)
 
-	// Finally we send a contact update so they are notified we added them
-	ensName, err := m.settings.ENSName()
+	ensName, err = m.settings.ENSName()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	// Finally we send a contact update so they are notified we added them
 	response, err := m.sendContactUpdate(context.Background(), pubKey, ensName, "")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/protocol/requests/add_contact.go b/protocol/requests/add_contact.go
index ff221151c..927f8b1b7 100644
--- a/protocol/requests/add_contact.go
+++ b/protocol/requests/add_contact.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ var ErrAddContactInvalidID = errors.New("add-contact: invalid id")
 type AddContact struct {
 	ID       types.HexBytes `json:"id"`
 	Nickname string         `json:"nickname"`
+	ENSName  string         `json:"ensName"`
 }
 
 func (a *AddContact) Validate() error {