diff --git a/mod/message.php b/mod/message.php
index 8c9aa657df..223976ddbe 100644
--- a/mod/message.php
+++ b/mod/message.php
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ function render_messages(array $msg, $t)
 			'$id' => $rr['id'],
 			'$from_name' => $participants,
 			'$from_url' => Contact::magicLink($rr['url']),
-			'$from_addr' => $contact['addr'],
+			'$from_addr' => defaults($contact, 'addr', ''),
 			'$sparkle' => ' sparkle',
 			'$from_photo' => ProxyUtils::proxifyUrl($from_photo, false, ProxyUtils::SIZE_THUMB),
 			'$subject' => $subject_e,