diff --git a/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/controllers/main_window.py b/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/controllers/main_window.py
index 772ec56ade58c4a4f53eb3834342b5a4d6fe606c..186e43620a42db8b9bf1afb89b3a52f53b0d42fb 100644
--- a/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/controllers/main_window.py
+++ b/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/controllers/main_window.py
@@ -44,8 +44,6 @@ class MainWindowController:
             self._private_chat_controller = None
 
     def open_private_chat(self, contact_id):
-        if self._private_chat_controller is not None:
-            raise Exception("Private Chat is already open")
         private_chat_view = PrivateChatView(self._builder)
         self._private_chat_controller = PrivateChatController(
             contact_id, private_chat_view, self._sidebar_controller,
diff --git a/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/controllers/private_chat.py b/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/controllers/private_chat.py
index edccf2e7759309cb295bdd278fd75d7c493b6b7f..652ad02ce5c5eb10178dcbc939f13adad5e1bb5f 100644
--- a/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/controllers/private_chat.py
+++ b/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/controllers/private_chat.py
@@ -107,10 +107,9 @@ class PrivateChatController:
         confirmation_dialog.show_all()
 
     def open_private_chat(self, contact_id):
-        print(f"Contact id: {contact_id}")
         contact_name = self._get_contact_name(contact_id)
         self._prepare_chat_view(contact_name)
-        self._setup_private_chat_widget(contact_id)
+        self._setup_private_chat_widget(contact_name, contact_id)
         self._current_contact_id = contact_id
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -170,8 +169,8 @@ class PrivateChatController:
         for child in children:
             child.destroy()
 
-    def _setup_private_chat_widget(self, contact_id):
-        self._private_chat_view.setup_view(contact_id)
+    def _setup_private_chat_widget(self, contact_name, contact_id):
+        self._private_chat_view.setup_view(contact_name, contact_id)
         self._private_chat_view.load_content()
         history_container = self._builder.get_object("history_container")
         history_container.add(self._private_chat_view)
diff --git a/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/views/private_chat.py b/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/views/private_chat.py
index 24d3bd7d2b10e374bb989bf38c28b3b257afb59c..b1f25a921e44f27c78546f0779f6dc767ca08462 100644
--- a/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/views/private_chat.py
+++ b/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/views/private_chat.py
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ class PrivateChatView(Gtk.Overlay):
         widget.set_text("")
         GLib.idle_add(self._scroll_to_bottom)
 
-    def setup_view(self, contact_id):
+    def setup_view(self, contact_name, contact_id):
+        self._contact_name = contact_name
         self._contact_id = contact_id
         self._add_from_resource(self.CONTAINER_UI)