diff --git a/include/api.php b/include/api.php
index bd16206a58..cae93a372b 100644
--- a/include/api.php
+++ b/include/api.php
@@ -3487,14 +3487,20 @@ function api_direct_messages_new($type)
 			dbesc($_POST['screen_name'])
 		);
 
-		// Selecting the id by priority, friendica first
-		api_best_nickname($r);
+		if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
+			// Selecting the id by priority, friendica first
+			api_best_nickname($r);
 
-		$recipient = api_get_user($a, $r[0]['nurl']);
+			$recipient = api_get_user($a, $r[0]['nurl']);
+		}
 	} else {
 		$recipient = api_get_user($a, $_POST['user_id']);
 	}
 
+	if (empty($recipient)) {
+		throw new NotFoundException('Recipient not found');
+	}
+
 	$replyto = '';
 	$sub     = '';
 	if (x($_REQUEST, 'replyto')) {