diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/routes/new-message.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/routes/new-message.js
index aec1774cc4c..f7e32b53417 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/routes/new-message.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/routes/new-message.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import DiscourseRoute from "discourse/routes/discourse";
 import Group from "discourse/models/group";
 import I18n from "I18n";
-import User from "discourse/models/user";
 import bootbox from "bootbox";
 import cookie from "discourse/lib/cookie";
 import { next } from "@ember/runloop";
@@ -15,24 +14,11 @@ export default DiscourseRoute.extend({
     if (this.currentUser) {
       this.replaceWith("discovery.latest").then((e) => {
         if (params.username) {
-          // send a message to a user
-          User.findByUsername(encodeURIComponent(params.username))
-            .then((user) => {
-              if (user.can_send_private_message_to_user) {
-                next(() =>
-                  e.send("createNewMessageViaParams", {
-                    recipients: user.username,
-                    topicTitle: params.title,
-                    topicBody: params.body,
-                  })
-                );
-              } else {
-                bootbox.alert(
-                  I18n.t("composer.cant_send_pm", { username: user.username })
-                );
-              }
-            })
-            .catch(() => bootbox.alert(I18n.t("generic_error")));
+          e.send("createNewMessageViaParams", {
+            recipients: params.username,
+            topicTitle: params.title,
+            topicBody: params.body,
+          });
         } else if (groupName) {
           // send a message to a group
           Group.messageable(groupName)
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/tests/acceptance/new-message-test.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/tests/acceptance/new-message-test.js
index 9ecd8abb17d..185850c5117 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/tests/acceptance/new-message-test.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/tests/acceptance/new-message-test.js
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ acceptance("New Message - Authenticated", function (needs) {
 
   test("accessing new-message route when logged in", async function (assert) {
     await visit(
-      "/new-message?username=charlie&title=message%20title&body=message%20body"
+      "/new-message?username=charlie,john&title=message%20title&body=message%20body"
     );
 
     assert.ok(exists(".composer-fields"), "it opens composer");
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ acceptance("New Message - Authenticated", function (needs) {
     const privateMessageUsers = selectKit("#private-message-users");
     assert.strictEqual(
       privateMessageUsers.header().value(),
-      "charlie",
+      "charlie,john",
       "it selects correct username"
     );
   });