diff --git a/mod/message.php b/mod/message.php
index fb22419857..d5bb3dfe49 100644
--- a/mod/message.php
+++ b/mod/message.php
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ function message_init(&$a) {
 	var a; 
 	a = $("#recip").autocomplete({ 
 		serviceUrl: '$base/acl',
+		minChars: 2,
 		width: 350,
 		onSelect: function(value,data) {
 			$("#recip-complete").val(data);