diff --git a/modules/message_handler.py b/modules/message_handler.py
index 0774bd9..6980619 100644
--- a/modules/message_handler.py
+++ b/modules/message_handler.py
@@ -2943,12 +2943,20 @@ class MessageHandler:
 
                     # Add companion to device contact list
                     try:
-                        # Only pass the fields required by `add_contact` (name + optional public_key).
-                        # `contact_data` may include RSSI/SNR values (often negative in dBm) which some
-                        # device APIs treat as unsigned integers.
-                        if public_key:
-                            result = await self.bot.meshcore.commands.add_contact(contact_name, public_key)
-                        else:
+                        # Avoid passing `contact_data` wholesale: it can include RSSI/SNR values
+                        # (often negative in dBm). Some device bindings cast those to unsigned
+                        # ints and fail.
+                        #
+                        # The meshcore binding for `add_contact` is not consistent across versions,
+                        # so we try (name, public_key) first, but fall back to (name) on
+                        # signature mismatches.
+                        try:
+                            if public_key:
+                                result = await self.bot.meshcore.commands.add_contact(contact_name, public_key)
+                            else:
+                                result = await self.bot.meshcore.commands.add_contact(contact_name)
+                        except TypeError:
+                            # Binding expects a single positional arg: `add_contact(name)`
                             result = await self.bot.meshcore.commands.add_contact(contact_name)
                         if hasattr(result, 'type') and result.type.name == 'OK':
                             self.logger.info(f"✅ Companion {contact_name} added to device contacts")