diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/badges/gifts/flow/GiftFlowConfirmationFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/badges/gifts/flow/GiftFlowConfirmationFragment.kt
index e7de159e3..0c277d5d4 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/badges/gifts/flow/GiftFlowConfirmationFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/badges/gifts/flow/GiftFlowConfirmationFragment.kt
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.keyboard.KeyboardPage
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.keyboard.KeyboardPagerViewModel
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.keyboard.emoji.EmojiKeyboardPageFragment
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.keyboard.emoji.search.EmojiSearchFragment
+import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.util.Debouncer
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.util.LifecycleDisposable
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.util.fragments.requireListener
 
@@ -67,10 +68,12 @@ class GiftFlowConfirmationFragment :
   private val lifecycleDisposable = LifecycleDisposable()
   private var errorDialog: DialogInterface? = null
   private lateinit var processingDonationPaymentDialog: AlertDialog
+  private lateinit var verifyingRecipientDonationPaymentDialog: AlertDialog
   private lateinit var donationPaymentComponent: DonationPaymentComponent
   private lateinit var textInputViewHolder: TextInput.MultilineViewHolder
 
   private val eventPublisher = PublishSubject.create<TextInput.TextInputEvent>()
+  private val debouncer = Debouncer(100L)
 
   override fun bindAdapter(adapter: DSLSettingsAdapter) {
     RecipientPreference.register(adapter)
@@ -85,6 +88,11 @@ class GiftFlowConfirmationFragment :
       .setCancelable(false)
       .create()
 
+    verifyingRecipientDonationPaymentDialog = MaterialAlertDialogBuilder(requireContext())
+      .setView(R.layout.verifying_recipient_payment_dialog)
+      .setCancelable(false)
+      .create()
+
     inputAwareLayout = requireView().findViewById(R.id.input_aware_layout)
     emojiKeyboard = requireView().findViewById(R.id.emoji_drawer)
 
@@ -122,10 +130,17 @@ class GiftFlowConfirmationFragment :
     lifecycleDisposable += viewModel.state.observeOn(AndroidSchedulers.mainThread()).subscribe { state ->
       adapter.submitList(getConfiguration(state).toMappingModelList())
 
+      if (state.stage == GiftFlowState.Stage.RECIPIENT_VERIFICATION) {
+        debouncer.publish { verifyingRecipientDonationPaymentDialog.show() }
+      } else {
+        debouncer.clear()
+        verifyingRecipientDonationPaymentDialog.dismiss()
+      }
+
       if (state.stage == GiftFlowState.Stage.PAYMENT_PIPELINE) {
         processingDonationPaymentDialog.show()
       } else {
-        processingDonationPaymentDialog.hide()
+        processingDonationPaymentDialog.dismiss()
       }
 
       textInputViewHolder.bind(
@@ -175,6 +190,8 @@ class GiftFlowConfirmationFragment :
     super.onDestroyView()
     textInputViewHolder.onDetachedFromWindow()
     processingDonationPaymentDialog.dismiss()
+    debouncer.clear()
+    verifyingRecipientDonationPaymentDialog.dismiss()
   }
 
   private fun getConfiguration(giftFlowState: GiftFlowState): DSLConfiguration {
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/badges/gifts/flow/GiftFlowState.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/badges/gifts/flow/GiftFlowState.kt
index 25ac3227a..b101e40b0 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/badges/gifts/flow/GiftFlowState.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/badges/gifts/flow/GiftFlowState.kt
@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@ data class GiftFlowState(
   enum class Stage {
     INIT,
     READY,
+    RECIPIENT_VERIFICATION,
     TOKEN_REQUEST,
     PAYMENT_PIPELINE,
-    FAILURE
+    FAILURE;
   }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/badges/gifts/flow/GiftFlowViewModel.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/badges/gifts/flow/GiftFlowViewModel.kt
index e09b744d0..8781bf51d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/badges/gifts/flow/GiftFlowViewModel.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/badges/gifts/flow/GiftFlowViewModel.kt
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import android.content.Intent
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModelProvider
 import com.google.android.gms.wallet.PaymentData
+import io.reactivex.rxjava3.android.schedulers.AndroidSchedulers
 import io.reactivex.rxjava3.core.Flowable
 import io.reactivex.rxjava3.core.Observable
 import io.reactivex.rxjava3.disposables.CompositeDisposable
@@ -128,9 +129,20 @@ class GiftFlowViewModel(
   fun requestTokenFromGooglePay(label: String) {
     val giftLevel = store.state.giftLevel ?: return
     val giftPrice = store.state.giftPrices[store.state.currency] ?: return
+    val giftRecipient = store.state.recipient?.id ?: return
 
     this.giftToPurchase = Gift(giftLevel, giftPrice)
-    donationPaymentRepository.requestTokenFromGooglePay(giftToPurchase!!.price, label, Gifts.GOOGLE_PAY_REQUEST_CODE)
+
+    store.update { it.copy(stage = GiftFlowState.Stage.RECIPIENT_VERIFICATION) }
+    disposables += donationPaymentRepository.verifyRecipientIsAllowedToReceiveAGift(giftRecipient)
+      .observeOn(AndroidSchedulers.mainThread())
+      .subscribeBy(
+        onComplete = {
+          store.update { it.copy(stage = GiftFlowState.Stage.TOKEN_REQUEST) }
+          donationPaymentRepository.requestTokenFromGooglePay(giftToPurchase!!.price, label, Gifts.GOOGLE_PAY_REQUEST_CODE)
+        },
+        onError = this::onPaymentFlowError
+      )
   }
 
   fun onActivityResult(
@@ -153,16 +165,7 @@ class GiftFlowViewModel(
             store.update { it.copy(stage = GiftFlowState.Stage.PAYMENT_PIPELINE) }
 
             donationPaymentRepository.continuePayment(gift.price, paymentData, recipient, store.state.additionalMessage?.toString(), gift.level).subscribeBy(
-              onError = { throwable ->
-                store.update { it.copy(stage = GiftFlowState.Stage.READY) }
-                val donationError: DonationError = if (throwable is DonationError) {
-                  throwable
-                } else {
-                  Log.w(TAG, "Failed to complete payment or redemption", throwable, true)
-                  DonationError.genericBadgeRedemptionFailure(DonationErrorSource.GIFT)
-                }
-                DonationError.routeDonationError(ApplicationDependencies.getApplication(), donationError)
-              },
+              onError = this@GiftFlowViewModel::onPaymentFlowError,
               onComplete = {
                 store.update { it.copy(stage = GiftFlowState.Stage.READY) }
                 eventPublisher.onNext(DonationEvent.PaymentConfirmationSuccess(store.state.giftBadge!!))
@@ -185,6 +188,17 @@ class GiftFlowViewModel(
     )
   }
 
+  private fun onPaymentFlowError(throwable: Throwable) {
+    store.update { it.copy(stage = GiftFlowState.Stage.READY) }
+    val donationError: DonationError = if (throwable is DonationError) {
+      throwable
+    } else {
+      Log.w(TAG, "Failed to complete payment or redemption", throwable, true)
+      DonationError.genericBadgeRedemptionFailure(DonationErrorSource.GIFT)
+    }
+    DonationError.routeDonationError(ApplicationDependencies.getApplication(), donationError)
+  }
+
   private fun getLoadState(
     oldState: GiftFlowState,
     giftPrices: Map<Currency, FiatMoney>? = null,
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/components/settings/app/subscription/DonationPaymentRepository.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/components/settings/app/subscription/DonationPaymentRepository.kt
index 7c10056df..5a8e192f5 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/components/settings/app/subscription/DonationPaymentRepository.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/components/settings/app/subscription/DonationPaymentRepository.kt
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit
  */
 class DonationPaymentRepository(activity: Activity) : StripeApi.PaymentIntentFetcher, StripeApi.SetupIntentHelper {
 
-  private val application = activity.application
   private val googlePayApi = GooglePayApi(activity, StripeApi.Gateway(Environment.Donations.STRIPE_CONFIGURATION), Environment.Donations.GOOGLE_PAY_CONFIGURATION)
   private val stripeApi = StripeApi(Environment.Donations.STRIPE_CONFIGURATION, this, this, ApplicationDependencies.getOkHttpClient())
 
@@ -92,19 +91,16 @@ class DonationPaymentRepository(activity: Activity) : StripeApi.PaymentIntentFet
   }
 
   /**
-   * @param price             The amount to charce the local user
-   * @param paymentData       PaymentData from Google Pay that describes the payment method
-   * @param badgeRecipient    Who will be getting the badge
-   * @param additionalMessage An additional message to send along with the badge (only used if badge recipient is not self)
+   * Verifies that the given recipient is a supported target for a gift.
    */
-  fun continuePayment(price: FiatMoney, paymentData: PaymentData, badgeRecipient: RecipientId, additionalMessage: String?, badgeLevel: Long): Completable {
-    val verifyRecipient = Completable.fromAction {
+  fun verifyRecipientIsAllowedToReceiveAGift(badgeRecipient: RecipientId): Completable {
+    return Completable.fromAction {
       Log.d(TAG, "Verifying badge recipient $badgeRecipient", true)
       val recipient = Recipient.resolved(badgeRecipient)
 
       if (recipient.isSelf) {
-        Log.d(TAG, "Badge recipient is self, so this is a boost. Skipping verification.", true)
-        return@fromAction
+        Log.d(TAG, "Cannot send a gift to self.", true)
+        throw DonationError.GiftRecipientVerificationError.SelectedRecipientDoesNotSupportGifts
       }
 
       if (recipient.isGroup || recipient.isDistributionList || recipient.registered != RecipientDatabase.RegisteredState.REGISTERED) {
@@ -124,11 +120,19 @@ class DonationPaymentRepository(activity: Activity) : StripeApi.PaymentIntentFet
         Log.w(TAG, "Failed to retrieve profile for recipient.", e, true)
         throw DonationError.GiftRecipientVerificationError.FailedToFetchProfile(e)
       }
-    }
+    }.subscribeOn(Schedulers.io())
+  }
 
-    return verifyRecipient.doOnComplete {
-      Log.d(TAG, "Creating payment intent for $price...", true)
-    }.andThen(stripeApi.createPaymentIntent(price, badgeLevel))
+  /**
+   * @param price             The amount to charce the local user
+   * @param paymentData       PaymentData from Google Pay that describes the payment method
+   * @param badgeRecipient    Who will be getting the badge
+   * @param additionalMessage An additional message to send along with the badge (only used if badge recipient is not self)
+   */
+  fun continuePayment(price: FiatMoney, paymentData: PaymentData, badgeRecipient: RecipientId, additionalMessage: String?, badgeLevel: Long): Completable {
+    Log.d(TAG, "Creating payment intent for $price...", true)
+
+    return stripeApi.createPaymentIntent(price, badgeLevel)
       .onErrorResumeNext {
         if (it is DonationError) {
           Single.error(it)
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/components/settings/app/subscription/errors/DonationErrorParams.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/components/settings/app/subscription/errors/DonationErrorParams.kt
index 5e197dea0..40141d0b5 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/components/settings/app/subscription/errors/DonationErrorParams.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/components/settings/app/subscription/errors/DonationErrorParams.kt
@@ -71,12 +71,20 @@ class DonationErrorParams<V> private constructor(
     }
 
     private fun <V> getVerificationErrorParams(context: Context, verificationError: DonationError.GiftRecipientVerificationError, callback: Callback<V>): DonationErrorParams<V> {
-      return DonationErrorParams(
-        title = R.string.DonationsErrors__recipient_verification_failed,
-        message = R.string.DonationsErrors__target_does_not_support_gifting,
-        positiveAction = callback.onContactSupport(context),
-        negativeAction = null
-      )
+      return when (verificationError) {
+        is DonationError.GiftRecipientVerificationError.FailedToFetchProfile -> DonationErrorParams(
+          title = R.string.DonationsErrors__could_not_verify_recipient,
+          message = R.string.DonationsErrors__please_check_your_network_connection,
+          positiveAction = callback.onOk(context),
+          negativeAction = null
+        )
+        else -> DonationErrorParams(
+          title = R.string.DonationsErrors__recipient_verification_failed,
+          message = R.string.DonationsErrors__target_does_not_support_gifting,
+          positiveAction = callback.onOk(context),
+          negativeAction = null
+        )
+      }
     }
 
     private fun <V> getDeclinedErrorParams(context: Context, declinedError: DonationError.PaymentSetupError.DeclinedError, callback: Callback<V>): DonationErrorParams<V> {
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/verifying_recipient_payment_dialog.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/verifying_recipient_payment_dialog.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..131cca3cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/res/layout/verifying_recipient_payment_dialog.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<androidx.cardview.widget.CardView xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
+    android:layout_width="match_parent"
+    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+    android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
+    android:layout_marginStart="80dp"
+    android:layout_marginEnd="80dp"
+    app:cardCornerRadius="12dp">
+
+    <androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout
+        android:layout_width="match_parent"
+        android:layout_height="match_parent"
+        android:paddingTop="64dp"
+        android:paddingBottom="64dp">
+
+        <ProgressBar
+            android:id="@+id/processing_card_progress"
+            style="?android:attr/progressBarStyleLarge"
+            android:layout_width="48dp"
+            android:layout_height="48dp"
+            android:indeterminate="true"
+            app:layout_constraintBottom_toTopOf="@id/processing_card_text"
+            app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
+            app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
+            app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent"
+            app:layout_constraintVertical_chainStyle="packed" />
+
+        <TextView
+            android:id="@+id/processing_card_text"
+            android:layout_width="match_parent"
+            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+            android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
+            android:layout_marginTop="20dp"
+            android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
+            android:gravity="center"
+            android:text="@string/GiftFlowConfirmationFragment__verifying_recipient"
+            android:textAppearance="@style/Signal.Text.Body"
+            app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
+            app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
+            app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
+            app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@id/processing_card_progress" />
+
+    </androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>
+</androidx.cardview.widget.CardView>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 7c3889d09..273785340 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -4234,8 +4234,14 @@
     <string name="ViewBadgeBottomSheetDialogFragment__your_device_doesn_t_support_google_pay_so_you_can_t_subscribe_to_earn_a_badge_you_can_still_support_signal_by_making_a_donation_on_our_website">Your device doesn\'t support Google Pay, so you can\'t subscribe to earn a badge. You can still support Signal by making a donation on our website.</string>
     <string name="NetworkFailure__network_error_check_your_connection_and_try_again">Network error. Check your connection and try again.</string>
     <string name="NetworkFailure__retry">Retry</string>
+    <!-- Displayed as a dialog title when the selected recipient for a gift doesn't support gifting -->
     <string name="DonationsErrors__recipient_verification_failed">Recipient verification failed.</string>
+    <!-- Displayed as a dialog message when the selected recipient for a gift doesn't support gifting -->
     <string name="DonationsErrors__target_does_not_support_gifting">Target does not support gifting.</string>
+    <!-- Displayed as a dialog title when the user's profile could not be fetched, likely due to lack of internet -->
+    <string name="DonationsErrors__could_not_verify_recipient">Could not verify recipient.</string>
+    <!-- Displayed as a dialog message when the user's profile could not be fetched, likely due to lack of internet -->
+    <string name="DonationsErrors__please_check_your_network_connection">Please check your network connection and try again.</string>
 
     <!-- Gift message view title -->
     <string name="GiftMessageView__gift_badge">Gift badge</string>
@@ -4746,6 +4752,8 @@
     <string name="GiftFlowConfirmationFragment__one_time_donation">One-time donation</string>
     <!-- Hint for add message input -->
     <string name="GiftFlowConfirmationFragment__add_a_message">Add a message</string>
+    <!-- Displayed in the dialog while verifying the chosen recipient -->
+    <string name="GiftFlowConfirmationFragment__verifying_recipient">Verifying recipient…</string>
     <!-- Title for sheet shown when opening a redeemed gift -->
     <string name="ViewReceivedGiftBottomSheet__s_sent_you_a_gift">%1$s sent you a gift</string>
     <!-- Title for sheet shown when opening a sent gift -->