diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 1308ddab9..3df99b6b2 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.88.2
+0.88.3
diff --git a/protocol/messenger.go b/protocol/messenger.go
index ec24fdfed..cefd4c245 100644
--- a/protocol/messenger.go
+++ b/protocol/messenger.go
@@ -2741,20 +2741,12 @@ func (m *Messenger) handleRetrievedMessages(chatWithMessages map[transport.Filte
 
 						// We join and re-register as we want to receive mentions from the newly joined public chat
 						if addedChat != nil {
-							_, err = m.Join(addedChat)
+							_, err = m.createPublicChat(addedChat.ID, messageState.Response)
 							if err != nil {
 								allMessagesProcessed = false
 								logger.Error("error joining chat", zap.Error(err))
 								continue
 							}
-							logger.Debug("newly synced public chat, re-registering for push notifications")
-							err := m.reregisterForPushNotifications()
-							if err != nil {
-
-								allMessagesProcessed = false
-								logger.Warn("could not re-register for push notifications", zap.Error(err))
-								continue
-							}
 						}
 
 					case protobuf.SyncCommunity:
diff --git a/protocol/messenger_chats.go b/protocol/messenger_chats.go
index 665eeec2d..d61b26d0c 100644
--- a/protocol/messenger_chats.go
+++ b/protocol/messenger_chats.go
@@ -102,13 +102,7 @@ func (m *Messenger) initChatSyncFields(chat *Chat) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (m *Messenger) CreatePublicChat(request *requests.CreatePublicChat) (*MessengerResponse, error) {
-	if err := request.Validate(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	chatID := request.ID
-
+func (m *Messenger) createPublicChat(chatID string, response *MessengerResponse) (*MessengerResponse, error) {
 	chat, ok := m.allChats.Load(chatID)
 	if !ok {
 		chat = CreatePublicChat(chatID, m.getTimesource())
@@ -155,12 +149,22 @@ func (m *Messenger) CreatePublicChat(request *requests.CreatePublicChat) (*Messe
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	response := &MessengerResponse{}
 	response.AddChat(chat)
 
 	return response, nil
 }
 
+func (m *Messenger) CreatePublicChat(request *requests.CreatePublicChat) (*MessengerResponse, error) {
+	if err := request.Validate(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	chatID := request.ID
+	response := &MessengerResponse{}
+
+	return m.createPublicChat(chatID, response)
+}
+
 func (m *Messenger) CreateProfileChat(request *requests.CreateProfileChat) (*MessengerResponse, error) {
 	if err := request.Validate(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/protocol/messenger_handler.go b/protocol/messenger_handler.go
index 85f77b19b..7627bcedf 100644
--- a/protocol/messenger_handler.go
+++ b/protocol/messenger_handler.go
@@ -365,11 +365,6 @@ func (m *Messenger) HandleSyncInstallationPublicChat(state *ReceivedMessageState
 	}
 
 	chat := CreatePublicChat(chatID, state.Timesource)
-
-	timestamp := uint32(state.Timesource.GetCurrentTime() / 1000)
-	chat.SyncedTo = timestamp
-	chat.SyncedFrom = timestamp
-
 	state.AllChats.Store(chat.ID, chat)
 
 	state.Response.AddChat(chat)