diff --git a/deps/microReticulum b/deps/microReticulum
index 12ef1ae..8532c0d 160000
--- a/deps/microReticulum
+++ b/deps/microReticulum
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 12ef1ae89447c0c36d286f82c9f2a434bd848e90
+Subproject commit 8532c0df1a52922bcf12a97c57b89eb613f62b56
diff --git a/lib/tdeck_ui/UI/LXMF/UIManager.cpp b/lib/tdeck_ui/UI/LXMF/UIManager.cpp
index 3a65a72..8109990 100644
--- a/lib/tdeck_ui/UI/LXMF/UIManager.cpp
+++ b/lib/tdeck_ui/UI/LXMF/UIManager.cpp
@@ -593,6 +593,9 @@ void UIManager::send_message(const Bytes& dest_hash, const String& content) {
     std::string msg = "Sending message to " + hash_hex + "...";
     INFO(msg.c_str());
 
+    // Mark recipient as a persistent contact (survives reboot)
+    Identity::mark_persistent(dest_hash);
+
     // Get our source destination (needed for signing)
     Destination source = _router.delivery_destination();
 
@@ -645,6 +648,9 @@ void UIManager::on_message_received(::LXMF::LXMessage& message) {
     std::string msg = "Message received from " + source_hex + "...";
     INFO(msg.c_str());
 
+    // Mark sender as a persistent contact (survives reboot)
+    RNS::Identity::mark_persistent(message.source_hash());
+
     // Save to store
     _store.save_message(message);