diff --git a/pkg/internal/server/api/direct_channels_api.go b/pkg/internal/server/api/direct_channels_api.go
index 436ea20..a9499c9 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/server/api/direct_channels_api.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/server/api/direct_channels_api.go
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ func createDirectChannel(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
 		return fiber.NewError(fiber.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Sprintf("unable to find related user: %v", err))
 	}
 
+	if ch, err := services.GetDirectChannelByUser(user, relatedUser); err == nil {
+		return fiber.NewError(fiber.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Sprintf("you already have a direct with that user #%d", ch.ID))
+	}
+
 	channel := models.Channel{
 		Alias:       data.Alias,
 		Name:        data.Name,
diff --git a/pkg/internal/services/direct_channels.go b/pkg/internal/services/direct_channels.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5ad30e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/internal/services/direct_channels.go
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package services
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hydrogen/messaging/pkg/internal/database"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hydrogen/messaging/pkg/internal/models"
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
+)
+
+func GetDirectChannelByUser(user models.Account, other models.Account) (models.Channel, error) {
+	memberTable := fmt.Sprintf("%schannel_members", viper.GetString("database.prefix"))
+	channelTable := fmt.Sprintf("%schannels", viper.GetString("database.prefix"))
+
+	var channel models.Channel
+	if err := database.C.Preload("Members").
+		Where("type = ?", models.ChannelTypeDirect).
+		Joins(fmt.Sprintf("JOIN %s cm1 ON cm1.channel_id = %s.id AND cm1.account_id = ?", memberTable, channelTable), user.ID).
+		Joins(fmt.Sprintf("JOIN %s cm2 ON cm2.channel_id = %s.id AND cm2.account_id = ?", memberTable, channelTable), other.ID).
+		First(&channel).Error; err != nil {
+		return channel, err
+	} else {
+		return channel, nil
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/internal/services/events.go b/pkg/internal/services/events.go
index 650cbd6..d5b6d9c 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/services/events.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/services/events.go
@@ -125,9 +125,18 @@ func NotifyMessageEvent(members []models.ChannelMember, event models.Event) {
 				displayText = fmt.Sprintf("%d attachment(s)", len(body.Attachments))
 			}
 
+			var channelDisplay string
+			if event.Channel.Type == models.ChannelTypeDirect {
+				channelDisplay = "DM"
+			}
+
+			if len(channelDisplay) == 0 {
+				channelDisplay = event.Channel.Alias
+			}
+
 			err := NotifyAccountMessager(member.Account,
 				"incomingMessage",
-				fmt.Sprintf("%s in #%s", event.Sender.Account.Nick, event.Channel.Alias),
+				fmt.Sprintf("%s in #%s", event.Sender.Account.Nick, channelDisplay),
 				fmt.Sprintf("%s", displayText),
 				true,
 				false,
diff --git a/settings.toml b/settings.toml
index 6b34762..8836028 100644
--- a/settings.toml
+++ b/settings.toml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ secret = "LtTjzAGFLshwXhN4ZD4nG5KlMv1MWcsvfv03TSZYnT1VhiAnLIZFTnHUwR0XhGgi"
 addr = "127.0.0.1:8500"
 
 [debug]
-database = false
+database = true
 print_routes = false
 
 [calling]