diff --git a/peach-web/src/context/sbot.rs b/peach-web/src/context/sbot.rs
index 2bb5b63..c745501 100644
--- a/peach-web/src/context/sbot.rs
+++ b/peach-web/src/context/sbot.rs
@@ -468,6 +468,8 @@ pub struct PrivateContext {
     pub sbot_status: Option<SbotStatus>,
     // local peer id (whoami)
     pub id: Option<String>,
+    // id of the peer being messaged
+    pub recipient_id: Option<String>,
 }
 
 impl PrivateContext {
@@ -481,10 +483,11 @@ impl PrivateContext {
             sbot_config: None,
             sbot_status: None,
             id: None,
+            recipient_id: None,
         }
     }
 
-    pub async fn build() -> Result<Self, PeachWebError> {
+    pub async fn build(recipient_id: Option<String>) -> Result<Self, PeachWebError> {
         let mut context = Self::default();
 
         // retrieve current ui theme
@@ -500,6 +503,8 @@ impl PrivateContext {
 
             let mut sbot_client = init_sbot_with_config(&sbot_config).await?;
 
+            context.recipient_id = recipient_id;
+
             let local_id = sbot_client.whoami().await?;
             context.id = Some(local_id);
         } else {
diff --git a/peach-web/src/routes/scuttlebutt.rs b/peach-web/src/routes/scuttlebutt.rs
index 9ed2d49..04d537c 100644
--- a/peach-web/src/routes/scuttlebutt.rs
+++ b/peach-web/src/routes/scuttlebutt.rs
@@ -102,10 +102,19 @@ pub async fn create_invite(invite: Form<Invite>, _auth: Authenticated) -> Flash<
 // HELPERS AND ROUTES FOR /private
 
 /// A private message composition and publication page.
-#[get("/private")]
-pub async fn private(flash: Option<FlashMessage<'_>>, _auth: Authenticated) -> Template {
+#[get("/private?<public_key>")]
+pub async fn private(
+    mut public_key: Option<String>,
+    flash: Option<FlashMessage<'_>>,
+    _auth: Authenticated,
+) -> Template {
+    if let Some(ref key) = public_key {
+        // `url_decode` replaces '+' with ' ', so we need to revert that
+        public_key = Some(key.replace(' ', "+"));
+    }
+
     // build the private context object
-    let context = PrivateContext::build().await;
+    let context = PrivateContext::build(public_key).await;
 
     match context {
         // we were able to build the context without errors
@@ -141,7 +150,7 @@ pub struct Private {
 /// Publish a private message.
 #[post("/private", data = "<private>")]
 pub async fn private_post(private: Form<Private>, _auth: Authenticated) -> Flash<Redirect> {
-    let url = uri!("/scuttlebutt", private);
+    let url = uri!("/scuttlebutt", private(None::<String>));
 
     // retrieve go-sbot systemd process status
     let sbot_status = match SbotStatus::read() {
diff --git a/peach-web/templates/scuttlebutt/private.html.tera b/peach-web/templates/scuttlebutt/private.html.tera
index b626299..45c6f72 100644
--- a/peach-web/templates/scuttlebutt/private.html.tera
+++ b/peach-web/templates/scuttlebutt/private.html.tera
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@
           <div class="capsule capsule-profile border-ssb" title="Scuttlebutt account profile information">
             <div class="center" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin-bottom: 2rem;" title="Public key (ID) of the peer being written to">
               <label for="publicKey" class="label-small font-gray">PUBLIC KEY</label>
-              <input type="text" id="publicKey" name="recipient" placeholder="@xYz...=.ed25519" autofocus>
+              <input type="text" id="publicKey" name="recipient" placeholder="@xYz...=.ed25519" {% if recipient_id %}value="{{ recipient_id }}"{% else %}autofocus{% endif %}>
             </div>
             <!-- input for message contents -->
-            <textarea id="privatePost" class="center input message-input" name="text" title="Compose a private message" placeholder="Write a private message..."></textarea>
+            <textarea id="privatePost" class="center input message-input" name="text" title="Compose a private message" placeholder="Write a private message..."{% if recipient_id %} autofocus{% endif %}></textarea>
             <!-- hidden input field to pass the public key of the local peer -->
             <input type="hidden" id="localId" name="id" value="{{ id }}">
           </div>
diff --git a/peach-web/templates/scuttlebutt/profile.html.tera b/peach-web/templates/scuttlebutt/profile.html.tera
index 9237134..a4cde01 100644
--- a/peach-web/templates/scuttlebutt/profile.html.tera
+++ b/peach-web/templates/scuttlebutt/profile.html.tera
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
           {% else %}
           <p>Unable to determine block state</p>
           {% endif %}
-          <a id="privateMessage" class="button button-primary center" href="/scuttlebutt/private_message" title="Private Message">Send Private Message</a>
+          <a id="privateMessage" class="button button-primary center" href="/scuttlebutt/private?public_key={{ id }}" title="Private Message">Send Private Message</a>
         </div>
         {%- endif %}
         {%- endif %}