diff --git a/lib/src/client.dart b/lib/src/client.dart
index 72935624..79068e35 100644
--- a/lib/src/client.dart
+++ b/lib/src/client.dart
@@ -479,6 +479,27 @@ class Client extends MatrixApi {
     return completer.future;
   }
 
+  /// Returns an existing direct room ID with this user or creates a new one.
+  /// Returns null on error.
+  Future<String> startDirectChat(String mxid) async {
+    // Try to find an existing direct chat
+    var roomId = getDirectChatFromUserId(mxid);
+    if (roomId != null) return roomId;
+
+    // Start a new direct chat
+    roomId = await createRoom(
+      invite: [mxid],
+      isDirect: true,
+      preset: CreateRoomPreset.trusted_private_chat,
+    );
+
+    if (roomId == null) return roomId;
+
+    await Room(id: roomId, client: this).addToDirectChat(mxid);
+
+    return roomId;
+  }
+
   /// Returns the user's own displayname and avatar url. In Matrix it is possible that
   /// one user can have different displaynames and avatar urls in different rooms. So
   /// this endpoint first checks if the profile is the same in all rooms. If not, the
diff --git a/lib/src/user.dart b/lib/src/user.dart
index 52011669..b404d94f 100644
--- a/lib/src/user.dart
+++ b/lib/src/user.dart
@@ -144,24 +144,7 @@ class User extends Event {
 
   /// Returns an existing direct chat ID with this user or creates a new one.
   /// Returns null on error.
-  Future<String> startDirectChat() async {
-    // Try to find an existing direct chat
-    var roomID = await room.client?.getDirectChatFromUserId(id);
-    if (roomID != null) return roomID;
-
-    // Start a new direct chat
-    final newRoomID = await room.client.createRoom(
-      invite: [id],
-      isDirect: true,
-      preset: CreateRoomPreset.trusted_private_chat,
-    );
-
-    if (newRoomID == null) return newRoomID;
-
-    await Room(id: newRoomID, client: room.client).addToDirectChat(id);
-
-    return newRoomID;
-  }
+  Future<String> startDirectChat() => room.client.startDirectChat(id);
 
   /// The newest presence of this user if there is any and null if not.
   Presence get presence => room.client.presences[id];