diff --git a/ts/models/conversation.ts b/ts/models/conversation.ts
index c05077662..e30ff986e 100644
--- a/ts/models/conversation.ts
+++ b/ts/models/conversation.ts
@@ -1517,7 +1517,7 @@ export class ConversationModel extends Backbone.Model<ConversationAttributes> {
   }
 
   public isApproved() {
-    return Boolean(this.get('isApproved'));
+    return this.get('isApproved');
   }
 
   public getTitle() {
diff --git a/ts/receiver/configMessage.ts b/ts/receiver/configMessage.ts
index eb7ce798b..297a8ea79 100644
--- a/ts/receiver/configMessage.ts
+++ b/ts/receiver/configMessage.ts
@@ -125,7 +125,11 @@ const handleContactReceived = async (
     // updateProfile will do a commit for us
     contactConvo.set('active_at', _.toNumber(envelope.timestamp));
 
-    if (window.lokiFeatureFlags.useMessageRequests === true && window.inboxStore?.getState().userConfig.messageRequests) {
+    if (
+      window.lokiFeatureFlags.useMessageRequests === true &&
+      window.inboxStore?.getState().userConfig.messageRequests &&
+      contactReceived.isApproved === true
+    ) {
       contactConvo.setIsApproved(Boolean(contactReceived.isApproved));
 
       if (contactReceived.isBlocked === true) {