diff --git a/src/status_im/contacts/handlers.cljs b/src/status_im/contacts/handlers.cljs
index 2d2b184445..d783be2701 100644
--- a/src/status_im/contacts/handlers.cljs
+++ b/src/status_im/contacts/handlers.cljs
@@ -122,9 +122,15 @@
       (assoc :new-contact-identity "")))
 
 (register-handler :add-new-contact
-   (-> add-new-contact
-       ((after save-contact))
-       ((after watch-contact))))
+   (u/side-effect!
+     (fn [_ [_ {:keys [whisper-identity] :as contact}]]
+       (when-not (contacts/get-contact whisper-identity)
+         (dispatch [::new-contact contact])))))
+
+(register-handler ::new-contact
+  (-> add-new-contact
+      ((after save-contact))
+      ((after watch-contact))))
 
 (defn set-contact-identity-from-qr
   [db [_ _ contact-identity]]
diff --git a/src/status_im/models/contacts.cljs b/src/status_im/models/contacts.cljs
index 70f67ac34c..83dc2f637b 100644
--- a/src/status_im/models/contacts.cljs
+++ b/src/status_im/models/contacts.cljs
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
       (r/sorted :name :asc)
       r/collection->map))
 
+(defn get-contact [id]
+  (r/get-one-by-field :account :contact :whisper-identity id))
+
 (defn create-contact [{:keys [whisper-identity] :as contact}]
   (let [contact-from-db (r/get-one-by-field :account :contact
                                             :whisper-identity whisper-identity)]