diff --git a/packages/status-js/src/client.ts b/packages/status-js/src/client.ts
index 5c8f9e3..f3ccbe8 100644
--- a/packages/status-js/src/client.ts
+++ b/packages/status-js/src/client.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-// todo: try protocol layer; then application data layer
 // todo: replies; normalize messages (e.g. replies) prior returning
 // todo: tests
 
diff --git a/packages/status-js/src/client/community/delete_handle-channel-chat-message.ts b/packages/status-js/src/client/community/delete_handle-channel-chat-message.ts
index 4c94a7e..f67da8c 100644
--- a/packages/status-js/src/client/community/delete_handle-channel-chat-message.ts
+++ b/packages/status-js/src/client/community/delete_handle-channel-chat-message.ts
@@ -19,26 +19,34 @@ export function handleChannelChatMessage(
     return
   }
 
-  const decodedProtocol = ProtocolMessage.decode(wakuMessage.payload)
+  let messageToDecode = wakuMessage.payload
+  let decodedProtocol
+  try {
+    decodedProtocol = ProtocolMessage.decode(messageToDecode)
+    if (decodedProtocol) {
+      messageToDecode = decodedProtocol.publicMessage
+    }
+  } catch {}
+
+  // fixme!: remove after replacing payloadToId
   if (!decodedProtocol) {
     return
   }
 
-  const decodedMetadata = ApplicationMetadataMessage.decode(
-    decodedProtocol.publicMessage
-  )
+  const decodedMetadata = ApplicationMetadataMessage.decode(messageToDecode)
   if (!decodedMetadata.payload) {
     return
   }
+  messageToDecode = decodedMetadata.payload
 
-  // todo?: process other types of messages
+  // todo: merge and process other types of messages
   if (
     decodedMetadata.type !== ApplicationMetadataMessage.Type.TYPE_CHAT_MESSAGE
   ) {
     return
   }
 
-  const decodedPayload = ChatMessage.decode(decodedMetadata.payload)
+  const decodedPayload = ChatMessage.decode(messageToDecode)
 
   const messageId = payloadToId(
     decodedProtocol.publicMessage,
diff --git a/packages/status-js/src/client/community/handle-channel-chat-message.ts b/packages/status-js/src/client/community/handle-channel-chat-message.ts
index b996d9e..76401ab 100644
--- a/packages/status-js/src/client/community/handle-channel-chat-message.ts
+++ b/packages/status-js/src/client/community/handle-channel-chat-message.ts
@@ -35,28 +35,37 @@ export function handleChannelChatMessage(
     return result
   }
 
-  const decodedProtocol = ProtocolMessage.decode(wakuMessage.payload)
+  let messageToDecode = wakuMessage.payload
+  let decodedProtocol
+
+  try {
+    decodedProtocol = ProtocolMessage.decode(wakuMessage.payload)
+    if (decodedProtocol) {
+      messageToDecode = decodedProtocol.publicMessage
+    }
+  } catch {}
+
+  // fixme!: remove after replacing payloadToId
   if (!decodedProtocol) {
     return result
   }
 
-  const decodedMetadata = ApplicationMetadataMessage.decode(
-    decodedProtocol.publicMessage
-  )
-
+  const decodedMetadata = ApplicationMetadataMessage.decode(messageToDecode)
   if (!decodedMetadata.payload) {
     return result
   }
+  messageToDecode = decodedMetadata.payload
 
   // todo?:
   // if (!decodedMetadata.identity) {
   //   break
   // }
 
+  // todo: merge and process other types of messages
   // TODO?: ignore messages which are messageType !== COMMUNITY_CHAT
   switch (decodedMetadata.type) {
     case ApplicationMetadataMessage.Type.TYPE_CHAT_MESSAGE: {
-      const decodedPayload = ChatMessage.decode(decodedMetadata.payload)
+      const decodedPayload = ChatMessage.decode(messageToDecode)
 
       const messageId = payloadToId(
         decodedProtocol.publicMessage,
@@ -99,7 +108,7 @@ export function handleChannelChatMessage(
       break
     }
     case ApplicationMetadataMessage.Type.TYPE_EDIT_MESSAGE: {
-      const decodedPayload = EditMessage.decode(decodedMetadata.payload)
+      const decodedPayload = EditMessage.decode(messageToDecode)
 
       const messageId = decodedPayload.messageId
       const channelId = getChannelId(decodedPayload.chatId)
@@ -139,7 +148,7 @@ export function handleChannelChatMessage(
       break
     }
     case ApplicationMetadataMessage.Type.TYPE_DELETE_MESSAGE: {
-      const decodedPayload = DeleteMessage.decode(decodedMetadata.payload)
+      const decodedPayload = DeleteMessage.decode(messageToDecode)
 
       const messageId = decodedPayload.messageId
       const channelId = getChannelId(decodedPayload.chatId)
@@ -168,7 +177,7 @@ export function handleChannelChatMessage(
       break
     }
     case ApplicationMetadataMessage.Type.TYPE_PIN_MESSAGE: {
-      const decodedPayload = PinMessage.decode(decodedMetadata.payload)
+      const decodedPayload = PinMessage.decode(messageToDecode)
 
       const messageId = decodedPayload.messageId
       const channelId = getChannelId(decodedPayload.chatId)
@@ -196,7 +205,7 @@ export function handleChannelChatMessage(
       break
     }
     case ApplicationMetadataMessage.Type.TYPE_EMOJI_REACTION: {
-      const decodedPayload = EmojiReaction.decode(decodedMetadata.payload)
+      const decodedPayload = EmojiReaction.decode(messageToDecode)
 
       const messageId = decodedPayload.messageId
       const channelId = getChannelId(decodedPayload.chatId)
diff --git a/packages/status-js/src/client/community/handle-community.ts b/packages/status-js/src/client/community/handle-community.ts
index c3390c6..e048837 100644
--- a/packages/status-js/src/client/community/handle-community.ts
+++ b/packages/status-js/src/client/community/handle-community.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { ApplicationMetadataMessage } from '../../../protos/application-metadata-message'
+import { ProtocolMessage } from '../../../protos/protocol-message'
 import { CommunityDescription } from '../../wire/community_description'
 
 import type { CommunityMetadataType } from './community'
@@ -11,12 +12,34 @@ export function handleCommunity(
     return
   }
 
-  const decodedMetadata = ApplicationMetadataMessage.decode(wakuMessage.payload)
-  if (!decodedMetadata.payload) {
+  if (!wakuMessage.signaturePublicKey) {
     return
   }
 
-  const decodedPayload = CommunityDescription.decode(decodedMetadata.payload)
+  let messageToDecode = wakuMessage.payload
+
+  try {
+    const decodedProtocol = ProtocolMessage.decode(messageToDecode)
+    if (decodedProtocol) {
+      messageToDecode = decodedProtocol.publicMessage
+    }
+  } catch {}
+
+  const decodedMetadata = ApplicationMetadataMessage.decode(messageToDecode)
+  if (!decodedMetadata.payload) {
+    return
+  }
+  messageToDecode = decodedMetadata.payload
+
+  // todo: merge and process other types of messages
+  if (
+    decodedMetadata.type !==
+    ApplicationMetadataMessage.Type.TYPE_COMMUNITY_DESCRIPTION
+  ) {
+    return
+  }
+
+  const decodedPayload = CommunityDescription.decode(messageToDecode)
   // todo!: explain
   if (!decodedPayload.identity) {
     return
diff --git a/packages/status-js/src/debug.ts b/packages/status-js/src/debug.ts
index a42c4a5..7601218 100644
--- a/packages/status-js/src/debug.ts
+++ b/packages/status-js/src/debug.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const CHANNEL_ID =
 
   await client.createAccount()
 
-  const communityMetadata = client.community.fetchCommunity()
+  const communityMetadata = await client.community.fetchCommunity()
 
   const fetchChannelMessages =
     await client.community.createFetchChannelMessages(CHANNEL_ID, messages =>