diff --git a/include/api.php b/include/api.php
index 929102de3a..a78ed078ec 100644
--- a/include/api.php
+++ b/include/api.php
@@ -1387,7 +1387,7 @@ function api_direct_messages_new($type)
 
 	$sender = DI::twitterUser()->createFromUserId($uid, true)->toArray();
 
-	$cid = BaseApi::getContactIDForSearchterm($_REQUEST['screen_name'] ?? '', $_REQUEST['profileurl'] ?? '', $_REQUEST['user_id'] ?? 0, $uid);
+	$cid = BaseApi::getContactIDForSearchterm($_REQUEST['screen_name'] ?? '', $_REQUEST['profileurl'] ?? '', $_REQUEST['user_id'] ?? 0, 0);
 	if (empty($cid)) {
 		throw new NotFoundException('Recipient not found');
 	}
diff --git a/tests/legacy/ApiTest.php b/tests/legacy/ApiTest.php
index 474ff68f25..081b042818 100644
--- a/tests/legacy/ApiTest.php
+++ b/tests/legacy/ApiTest.php
@@ -2499,8 +2499,8 @@ class ApiTest extends FixtureTest
 	 */
 	public function testApiDirectMessagesNewWithUserId()
 	{
-		$_POST['text']    = 'message_text';
-		$_POST['user_id'] = $this->otherUser['id'];
+		$_POST['text']       = 'message_text';
+		$_REQUEST['user_id'] = $this->otherUser['id'];
 		$result           = api_direct_messages_new('json');
 		self::assertEquals(['direct_message' => ['error' => -1]], $result);
 	}