diff --git a/protocol/messenger.go b/protocol/messenger.go
index fcbbfa001b2..481f0223290 100644
--- a/protocol/messenger.go
+++ b/protocol/messenger.go
@@ -1724,6 +1724,8 @@ func (m *Messenger) Init() error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+
+	communityInfo := make(map[string]*communities.Community)
 	for _, chat := range chats {
 		if err := chat.Validate(); err != nil {
 			logger.Warn("failed to validate chat", zap.Error(err))
@@ -1740,20 +1742,13 @@ func (m *Messenger) Init() error {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		communityInfo := make(map[string]*communities.Community)
-
 		switch chat.ChatType {
 		case ChatTypePublic, ChatTypeProfile:
 			filtersToInit = append(filtersToInit, transport.FiltersToInitialize{ChatID: chat.ID})
 		case ChatTypeCommunityChat:
-			communityID, err := hexutil.Decode(chat.CommunityID)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
 			community, ok := communityInfo[chat.CommunityID]
 			if !ok {
-				community, err = m.communitiesManager.GetByID(communityID)
+				community, err = m.communitiesManager.GetByIDString(chat.CommunityID)
 				if err != nil {
 					return err
 				}