diff --git a/packages/react-chat/src/hooks/useMessenger.ts b/packages/react-chat/src/hooks/useMessenger.ts
index c8dc47a..6d069c9 100644
--- a/packages/react-chat/src/hooks/useMessenger.ts
+++ b/packages/react-chat/src/hooks/useMessenger.ts
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ export function useMessenger(chatId: string, chatIdList: string[]) {
 
       await Promise.all(
         chatIdList.map(async (id) => {
-          await messenger.joinChat(id);
+          await messenger.joinChatById(id);
           setLastLoadTime((prev) => {
             return {
               ...prev,
diff --git a/packages/status-communities/src/messenger.spec.ts b/packages/status-communities/src/messenger.spec.ts
index 1cf734d..2d15495 100644
--- a/packages/status-communities/src/messenger.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/status-communities/src/messenger.spec.ts
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ describe("Messenger", () => {
   it("Sends & Receive public chat messages", async function () {
     this.timeout(10_000);
 
-    await messengerAlice.joinChat(testChatId);
-    await messengerBob.joinChat(testChatId);
+    await messengerAlice.joinChatById(testChatId);
+    await messengerBob.joinChatById(testChatId);
 
     const text = "This is a message.";
 
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ describe("Messenger", () => {
   it("public chat messages have signers", async function () {
     this.timeout(10_000);
 
-    await messengerAlice.joinChat(testChatId);
-    await messengerBob.joinChat(testChatId);
+    await messengerAlice.joinChatById(testChatId);
+    await messengerBob.joinChatById(testChatId);
 
     const text = "This is a message.";
 
diff --git a/packages/status-communities/src/messenger.ts b/packages/status-communities/src/messenger.ts
index cab1dd7..375c49c 100644
--- a/packages/status-communities/src/messenger.ts
+++ b/packages/status-communities/src/messenger.ts
@@ -36,16 +36,27 @@ export class Messenger {
     return new Messenger(identity, waku);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Joins a public chat using its id.
+   *
+   * For community chats, prefer [[joinChat]].
+   *
+   * Use `addListener` to get messages received on this chat.
+   */
+  public async joinChatById(chatId: string): Promise<void> {
+    const chat = await Chat.create(chatId);
+
+    await this.joinChat(chat);
+  }
+
   /**
    * Joins a public chat.
    *
    * Use `addListener` to get messages received on this chat.
    */
-  public async joinChat(chatId: string): Promise<void> {
-    if (this.chatsById.has(chatId))
-      throw `Failed to join chat, it is already joined: ${chatId}`;
-
-    const chat = await Chat.create(chatId);
+  public async joinChat(chat: Chat): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.chatsById.has(chat.id))
+      throw `Failed to join chat, it is already joined: ${chat.id}`;
 
     this.waku.addDecryptionKey(chat.symKey);
 
@@ -66,7 +77,7 @@ export class Messenger {
       [chat.contentTopic]
     );
 
-    this.chatsById.set(chatId, chat);
+    this.chatsById.set(chat.id, chat);
   }
 
   /**