diff --git a/app/soapbox/actions/chats.js b/app/soapbox/actions/chats.js
index 6f8d1c788..5529da6f6 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/actions/chats.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/actions/chats.js
@@ -165,3 +165,19 @@ export function deleteChatMessage(chatId, messageId) {
     });
   };
 }
+
+/** Start a chat and launch it in the UI */
+export function launchChat(account, router) {
+  const isMobile = width => width <= 1190;
+
+  return (dispatch, getState) => {
+    // TODO: make this faster
+    return dispatch(startChat(account.get('id'))).then(chat => {
+      if (isMobile(window.innerWidth)) {
+        router.push(`/chats/${chat.id}`);
+      } else {
+        dispatch(openChat(chat.id));
+      }
+    });
+  };
+}
diff --git a/app/soapbox/components/status.js b/app/soapbox/components/status.js
index 5a9de370d..544c9320f 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/components/status.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/components/status.js
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ class Status extends ImmutablePureComponent {
     onReblog: PropTypes.func,
     onDelete: PropTypes.func,
     onDirect: PropTypes.func,
+    onChat: PropTypes.func,
     onMention: PropTypes.func,
     onPin: PropTypes.func,
     onOpenMedia: PropTypes.func,
diff --git a/app/soapbox/components/status_action_bar.js b/app/soapbox/components/status_action_bar.js
index 4ae7a8539..0b7c5e0a5 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/components/status_action_bar.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/components/status_action_bar.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const messages = defineMessages({
   delete: { id: 'status.delete', defaultMessage: 'Delete' },
   redraft: { id: 'status.redraft', defaultMessage: 'Delete & re-draft' },
   direct: { id: 'status.direct', defaultMessage: 'Direct message @{name}' },
+  chat: { id: 'status.chat', defaultMessage: 'Chat with @{name}' },
   mention: { id: 'status.mention', defaultMessage: 'Mention @{name}' },
   mute: { id: 'account.mute', defaultMessage: 'Mute @{name}' },
   block: { id: 'account.block', defaultMessage: 'Block @{name}' },
@@ -74,6 +75,7 @@ class StatusActionBar extends ImmutablePureComponent {
     onReblog: PropTypes.func,
     onDelete: PropTypes.func,
     onDirect: PropTypes.func,
+    onChat: PropTypes.func,
     onMention: PropTypes.func,
     onMute: PropTypes.func,
     onBlock: PropTypes.func,
@@ -218,6 +220,10 @@ class StatusActionBar extends ImmutablePureComponent {
     this.props.onDirect(this.props.status.get('account'), this.context.router.history);
   }
 
+  handleChatClick = () => {
+    this.props.onChat(this.props.status.get('account'), this.context.router.history);
+  }
+
   handleMuteClick = () => {
     this.props.onMute(this.props.status.get('account'));
   }
@@ -331,7 +337,13 @@ class StatusActionBar extends ImmutablePureComponent {
       menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.redraft), action: this.handleRedraftClick });
     } else {
       menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.mention, { name: status.getIn(['account', 'username']) }), action: this.handleMentionClick });
-      menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.direct, { name: status.getIn(['account', 'username']) }), action: this.handleDirectClick });
+
+      if (status.getIn(['account', 'pleroma', 'accepts_chat_messages'], false) === true) {
+        menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.chat, { name: status.getIn(['account', 'username']) }), action: this.handleChatClick });
+      } else {
+        menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.direct, { name: status.getIn(['account', 'username']) }), action: this.handleDirectClick });
+      }
+
       menu.push(null);
       menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.mute, { name: status.getIn(['account', 'username']) }), action: this.handleMuteClick });
       menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.block, { name: status.getIn(['account', 'username']) }), action: this.handleBlockClick });
diff --git a/app/soapbox/containers/status_container.js b/app/soapbox/containers/status_container.js
index 5d0490c60..0df68e5f9 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/containers/status_container.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/containers/status_container.js
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import {
 import { getSettings } from '../actions/settings';
 import { getSoapboxConfig } from 'soapbox/actions/soapbox';
 import { deactivateUserModal, deleteUserModal, deleteStatusModal, toggleStatusSensitivityModal } from 'soapbox/actions/moderation';
+import { launchChat } from 'soapbox/actions/chats';
 
 const messages = defineMessages({
   deleteConfirm: { id: 'confirmations.delete.confirm', defaultMessage: 'Delete' },
@@ -151,6 +152,10 @@ const mapDispatchToProps = (dispatch, { intl }) => ({
     dispatch(directCompose(account, router));
   },
 
+  onChat(account, router) {
+    dispatch(launchChat(account, router));
+  },
+
   onMention(account, router) {
     dispatch(mentionCompose(account, router));
   },
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/account/components/header.js b/app/soapbox/features/account/components/header.js
index a8c173e94..6a603fe20 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/account/components/header.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/account/components/header.js
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ class Header extends ImmutablePureComponent {
   }
 
   renderMessageButton() {
-    const { account, me } = this.props;
+    const { intl, account, me } = this.props;
 
     if (!me || !account || account.get('id') === me) {
       return null;
@@ -309,9 +309,21 @@ class Header extends ImmutablePureComponent {
     const canChat = account.getIn(['pleroma', 'accepts_chat_messages'], false) === true;
 
     if (canChat) {
-      return <IconButton src={require('@tabler/icons/icons/messages.svg')} onClick={this.props.onChat} />;
+      return (
+        <IconButton
+          src={require('@tabler/icons/icons/messages.svg')}
+          onClick={this.props.onChat}
+          title={intl.formatMessage(messages.chat, { name: account.get('username') })}
+        />
+      );
     } else {
-      return <IconButton src={require('@tabler/icons/icons/mail.svg')} onClick={this.props.onDirect} />;
+      return (
+        <IconButton
+          src={require('@tabler/icons/icons/mail.svg')}
+          onClick={this.props.onDirect}
+          title={intl.formatMessage(messages.direct, { name: account.get('username') })}
+        />
+      );
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/components/header.js b/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/components/header.js
index b322125fd..aba9af207 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/components/header.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/components/header.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export default class Header extends ImmutablePureComponent {
     onBlock: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
     onMention: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
     onDirect: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    onChat: PropTypes.func,
     onReblogToggle: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
     onReport: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
     onMute: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/containers/header_container.js b/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/containers/header_container.js
index ddcf6a3ce..6cf505e56 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/containers/header_container.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/account_timeline/containers/header_container.js
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import { blockDomain, unblockDomain } from '../../../actions/domain_blocks';
 import { defineMessages, injectIntl, FormattedMessage } from 'react-intl';
 import { List as ImmutableList } from 'immutable';
 import { getSettings } from 'soapbox/actions/settings';
-import { startChat, openChat } from 'soapbox/actions/chats';
+import { launchChat } from 'soapbox/actions/chats';
 import { deactivateUserModal, deleteUserModal } from 'soapbox/actions/moderation';
 import {
   verifyUser,
@@ -50,8 +50,6 @@ const messages = defineMessages({
 
 });
 
-const isMobile = width => width <= 1190;
-
 const makeMapStateToProps = () => {
   const getAccount = makeGetAccount();
 
@@ -164,14 +162,7 @@ const mapDispatchToProps = (dispatch, { intl }) => ({
   },
 
   onChat(account, router) {
-    // TODO make this faster
-    dispatch(startChat(account.get('id'))).then(chat => {
-      if (isMobile(window.innerWidth)) {
-        router.push(`/chats/${chat.id}`);
-      } else {
-        dispatch(openChat(chat.id));
-      }
-    }).catch(() => {});
+    dispatch(launchChat(account, router));
   },
 
   onDeactivateUser(account) {
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/status/components/action_bar.js b/app/soapbox/features/status/components/action_bar.js
index a998e641a..9dbc73923 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/status/components/action_bar.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/status/components/action_bar.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ const messages = defineMessages({
   delete: { id: 'status.delete', defaultMessage: 'Delete' },
   redraft: { id: 'status.redraft', defaultMessage: 'Delete & re-draft' },
   direct: { id: 'status.direct', defaultMessage: 'Direct message @{name}' },
+  chat: { id: 'status.chat', defaultMessage: 'Chat with @{name}' },
   mention: { id: 'status.mention', defaultMessage: 'Mention @{name}' },
   reply: { id: 'status.reply', defaultMessage: 'Reply' },
   reblog: { id: 'status.reblog', defaultMessage: 'Repost' },
@@ -86,6 +87,7 @@ class ActionBar extends React.PureComponent {
     onDelete: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
     onBookmark: PropTypes.func,
     onDirect: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    onChat: PropTypes.func,
     onMention: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
     onMute: PropTypes.func,
     onMuteConversation: PropTypes.func,
@@ -210,6 +212,10 @@ class ActionBar extends React.PureComponent {
     this.props.onDirect(this.props.status.get('account'), this.context.router.history);
   }
 
+  handleChatClick = () => {
+    this.props.onChat(this.props.status.get('account'), this.context.router.history);
+  }
+
   handleMentionClick = () => {
     this.props.onMention(this.props.status.get('account'), this.context.router.history);
   }
@@ -337,7 +343,13 @@ class ActionBar extends React.PureComponent {
       menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.redraft), action: this.handleRedraftClick });
     } else {
       menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.mention, { name: status.getIn(['account', 'username']) }), action: this.handleMentionClick });
-      //menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.direct, { name: status.getIn(['account', 'username']) }), action: this.handleDirectClick });
+
+      if (status.getIn(['account', 'pleroma', 'accepts_chat_messages'], false) === true) {
+        menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.chat, { name: status.getIn(['account', 'username']) }), action: this.handleChatClick });
+      } else {
+        menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.direct, { name: status.getIn(['account', 'username']) }), action: this.handleDirectClick });
+      }
+
       menu.push(null);
       menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.mute, { name: status.getIn(['account', 'username']) }), action: this.handleMuteClick });
       menu.push({ text: intl.formatMessage(messages.block, { name: status.getIn(['account', 'username']) }), action: this.handleBlockClick });
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/status/containers/detailed_status_container.js b/app/soapbox/features/status/containers/detailed_status_container.js
index cbe1d8485..1b2d64a2a 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/status/containers/detailed_status_container.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/status/containers/detailed_status_container.js
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import { defineMessages, injectIntl, FormattedMessage } from 'react-intl';
 import { showAlertForError } from '../../../actions/alerts';
 import { getSettings } from 'soapbox/actions/settings';
 import { deactivateUserModal, deleteUserModal, deleteStatusModal, toggleStatusSensitivityModal } from 'soapbox/actions/moderation';
+import { launchChat } from 'soapbox/actions/chats';
 
 const messages = defineMessages({
   deleteConfirm: { id: 'confirmations.delete.confirm', defaultMessage: 'Delete' },
@@ -141,6 +142,10 @@ const mapDispatchToProps = (dispatch, { intl }) => ({
     dispatch(directCompose(account, router));
   },
 
+  onChat(account, router) {
+    dispatch(launchChat(account, router));
+  },
+
   onMention(account, router) {
     dispatch(mentionCompose(account, router));
   },
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/status/index.js b/app/soapbox/features/status/index.js
index ef0eaede0..8b42ad279 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/status/index.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/status/index.js
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ import { deactivateUserModal, deleteUserModal, deleteStatusModal, toggleStatusSe
 import ThreadStatus from './components/thread_status';
 import PendingStatus from 'soapbox/features/ui/components/pending_status';
 import SubNavigation from 'soapbox/components/sub_navigation';
+import { launchChat } from 'soapbox/actions/chats';
 
 const messages = defineMessages({
   title: { id: 'status.title', defaultMessage: 'Post' },
@@ -254,6 +255,10 @@ class Status extends ImmutablePureComponent {
     this.props.dispatch(directCompose(account, router));
   }
 
+  handleChatClick = (account, router) => {
+    this.props.dispatch(launchChat(account, router));
+  }
+
   handleMentionClick = (account, router) => {
     this.props.dispatch(mentionCompose(account, router));
   }
@@ -643,6 +648,7 @@ class Status extends ImmutablePureComponent {
                   onReblog={this.handleReblogClick}
                   onDelete={this.handleDeleteClick}
                   onDirect={this.handleDirectClick}
+                  onChat={this.handleChatClick}
                   onMention={this.handleMentionClick}
                   onMute={this.handleMuteClick}
                   onMuteConversation={this.handleConversationMuteClick}