diff --git a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift
index 6b757e795f..2067477980 100644
--- a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift
@@ -2734,6 +2734,7 @@ public enum RelayStatus: String, Decodable, Equatable, Hashable {
     case new
     case invited
     case accepted
+    case acknowledgedRoster
     case active
     case inactive
     case rejected
@@ -2809,6 +2810,7 @@ extension RelayStatus {
         case .new: "new"
         case .invited: "invited"
         case .accepted: "accepted"
+        case .acknowledgedRoster: "acknowledged roster"
         case .active: "active"
         case .inactive: "inactive"
         case .rejected: "rejected"
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/ChatModel.kt b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/ChatModel.kt
index fa2051a761..ecfb58fdb0 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/ChatModel.kt
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/ChatModel.kt
@@ -2415,6 +2415,7 @@ enum class RelayStatus {
   @SerialName("new") New,
   @SerialName("invited") Invited,
   @SerialName("accepted") Accepted,
+  @SerialName("acknowledgedRoster") AcknowledgedRoster,
   @SerialName("active") Active,
   @SerialName("inactive") Inactive,
   @SerialName("rejected") Rejected;
@@ -2423,6 +2424,7 @@ enum class RelayStatus {
     New -> generalGetString(MR.strings.relay_status_new)
     Invited -> generalGetString(MR.strings.relay_status_invited)
     Accepted -> generalGetString(MR.strings.relay_status_accepted)
+    AcknowledgedRoster -> generalGetString(MR.strings.relay_status_acknowledged_roster)
     Active -> generalGetString(MR.strings.relay_status_active)
     Inactive -> generalGetString(MR.strings.relay_status_inactive)
     Rejected -> generalGetString(MR.strings.relay_status_rejected)
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/resources/MR/base/strings.xml b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/resources/MR/base/strings.xml
index e943e0080a..4e25328157 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/resources/MR/base/strings.xml
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/resources/MR/base/strings.xml
@@ -3008,6 +3008,7 @@
   <string name="relay_status_new">new</string>
   <string name="relay_status_invited">invited</string>
   <string name="relay_status_accepted">accepted</string>
+  <string name="relay_status_acknowledged_roster">acknowledged roster</string>
   <string name="relay_status_active">active</string>
   <string name="relay_status_inactive">inactive</string>
   <string name="relay_status_rejected">rejected</string>
diff --git a/bots/api/TYPES.md b/bots/api/TYPES.md
index 37eb4c20a0..3d9aee7d42 100644
--- a/bots/api/TYPES.md
+++ b/bots/api/TYPES.md
@@ -3453,6 +3453,7 @@ ParseError:
 - "new"
 - "invited"
 - "accepted"
+- "acknowledgedRoster"
 - "active"
 - "inactive"
 - "rejected"
diff --git a/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/types.ts b/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/types.ts
index 8a1730add6..f44cbeafeb 100644
--- a/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/types.ts
@@ -3813,6 +3813,7 @@ export enum RelayStatus {
   New = "new",
   Invited = "invited",
   Accepted = "accepted",
+  AcknowledgedRoster = "acknowledgedRoster",
   Active = "active",
   Inactive = "inactive",
   Rejected = "rejected",
diff --git a/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_types.py b/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_types.py
index 5455ff76c1..744e86b735 100644
--- a/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_types.py
+++ b/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_types.py
@@ -2671,7 +2671,7 @@ class RelayProfile(TypedDict):
     shortDescr: NotRequired[str]
     image: NotRequired[str]
 
-RelayStatus = Literal["new", "invited", "accepted", "active", "inactive", "rejected"]
+RelayStatus = Literal["new", "invited", "accepted", "acknowledgedRoster", "active", "inactive", "rejected"]
 
 ReportReason = Literal["spam", "content", "community", "profile", "other"]
 
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Commands.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Commands.hs
index ee15c2bf3d..b0f9164048 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Commands.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Commands.hs
@@ -4914,7 +4914,7 @@ runRelayGroupLinkChecks user = do
                   then do
                     -- TODO [relays] emit event to UI when relay own status promoted to RSActive
                     -- CEvtGroupRelayUpdated requires GroupRelay (owner-side), not available on relay side
-                    void $ withStore' $ \db -> updateRelayOwnStatusFromTo db gInfo RSAccepted RSActive
+                    void $ withStore' $ \db -> updateRelayOwnStatus_ db gInfo RSActive
                   else void $ withStore' $ \db -> updateRelayOwnStatusFromTo db gInfo RSActive RSInactive
               _ -> pure ()
           _ -> pure ()
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Subscriber.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Subscriber.hs
index e3757957cf..8e58d76f7d 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Subscriber.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Subscriber.hs
@@ -1227,12 +1227,13 @@ processAgentMessageConn cxt user@User {userId} corrId agentConnId agentMessage =
                   relayProfile <- liftIO (decodeLinkUserData cData) >>= \case
                     Just RelayShortLinkData {relayProfile = p} -> pure p
                     Nothing -> throwChatError $ CEException "relay link: no relay link data"
-                  confId <- withStore $ \db -> do
+                  (confId, m', relay)  <- withStore $ \db -> do
                     confId <- getRelayConfId db m
                     liftIO $ updateGroupMemberStatus db userId m GSMemAccepted
-                    void $ setRelayKey db cxt user m (MemberKey relayKey) relayProfile
-                    pure confId
+                    (m', relay) <- setRelayLinkAccepted db cxt user m (MemberKey relayKey) relayProfile
+                    pure (confId, m', relay)
                   allowAgentConnectionAsync user conn confId XOk
+                  toView $ CEvtGroupRelayUpdated user gInfo m' relay
                 else
                   -- TODO [relays] owner: TBC failed RelayStatus?
                   messageError "relay link: relay member ID mismatch"
@@ -1399,7 +1400,7 @@ processAgentMessageConn cxt user@User {userId} corrId agentConnId agentMessage =
                     updateRelay db relay@GroupRelay {groupMemberId, relayLink, relayStatus} (acc, changed, newlyActiveLinks, newlyActiveGMIds) =
                       case relayLink of
                         Just rLink
-                          | rLink `elem` relayLinks && relayStatus == RSAccepted -> do
+                          | rLink `elem` relayLinks && relayStatus == RSAcknowledgedRoster -> do
                               relay' <- updateRelayStatus db relay RSActive
                               pure (relay' : acc, True, rLink : newlyActiveLinks, groupMemberId : newlyActiveGMIds)
                           | rLink `elem` relayLinks -> pure (relay : acc, changed, newlyActiveLinks, newlyActiveGMIds)
@@ -3339,8 +3340,10 @@ processAgentMessageConn cxt user@User {userId} corrId agentConnId agentMessage =
                   cleanupGroupRosterFile user gInfo
                   forM_ results_ $ \results -> do
                     emitRosterResults gInfo author rosterBrokerTs results
-                    -- ack only while still setting up (own status RSAccepted); a serving relay must not ack broadcasts.
-                    when (isRelay && relayOwnStatus gInfo == Just RSAccepted) $ sendRosterAck gInfo author pendingVer Nothing
+                    -- ack while setting up (own status accepted/acknowledged); a serving (active) relay must not ack broadcasts.
+                    when (isRelay && relayOwnStatus gInfo == Just RSAccepted || relayOwnStatus gInfo == Just RSAcknowledgedRoster) $ do
+                      sendRosterAck gInfo author pendingVer Nothing
+                      withStore' $ \db -> void $ updateRelayOwnStatusFromTo db gInfo RSAccepted RSAcknowledgedRoster
       where
         readAssembledRoster = case fileStatus of
           RFSAccepted fp -> readAt fp
@@ -3405,18 +3408,18 @@ processAgentMessageConn cxt user@User {userId} corrId agentConnId agentMessage =
     xGrpRosterAck gInfo m ackVer err = do
       relay_ <- withStore' $ \db -> eitherToMaybe <$> runExceptT (getGroupRelayByGMId db (groupMemberId' m))
       case relay_ of
-        Just relay@GroupRelay {relayStatus = RSInvited} -> case err of
+        Just relay@GroupRelay {relayStatus = RSAccepted} -> case err of
           Nothing
             | rosterVersion gInfo == Just ackVer -> do
                 (relay', gLink) <- withStore $ \db -> do
-                  relay' <- liftIO $ updateRelayStatus db relay RSAccepted
+                  relay' <- liftIO $ updateRelayStatus db relay RSAcknowledgedRoster
                   gLink <- getGroupLink db user gInfo
                   pure (relay', gLink)
                 setGroupLinkDataAsync user gInfo gLink
                 toView $ CEvtGroupRelayUpdated user gInfo m relay'
             | otherwise -> messageWarning "x.grp.roster.ack: stale version, awaiting ack for the current roster"
           Just e -> do
-            relay' <- withStore' $ \db -> updateRelayStatusFromTo db relay RSInvited RSRejected
+            relay' <- withStore' $ \db -> updateRelayStatusFromTo db relay RSAccepted RSRejected
             toView $ CEvtGroupRelayUpdated user gInfo m relay'
             messageError $ "x.grp.roster.ack: relay could not save roster, marked rejected: " <> e
         _ -> pure ()
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/Groups.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/Groups.hs
index ffd55c0d61..3ca6223a06 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/Groups.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/Groups.hs
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ module Simplex.Chat.Store.Groups
     createRelayConnection,
     updateRelayStatus,
     updateRelayStatusFromTo,
-    setRelayKey,
+    setRelayLinkAccepted,
     setRelayLinkConfId,
     updateRelayCapabilities,
     getRelayConfId,
@@ -1433,7 +1433,7 @@ getConnectedGroupRelays db GroupInfo {groupId} =
                  AND gr.relay_status IN (?,?)
              |]
       )
-      (groupId, GSMemConnected, RSAccepted, RSActive)
+      (groupId, GSMemConnected, RSAcknowledgedRoster, RSActive)
 
 groupRelayQuery :: Query
 groupRelayQuery =
@@ -1665,10 +1665,18 @@ updateRelayStatus_ db relayId relayStatus = do
   currentTs <- getCurrentTime
   DB.execute db "UPDATE group_relays SET relay_status = ?, updated_at = ? WHERE group_relay_id = ?" (relayStatus, currentTs, relayId)
 
-setRelayKey :: DB.Connection -> StoreCxt -> User -> GroupMember -> MemberKey -> Profile -> ExceptT StoreError IO (GroupMember, GroupRelay)
-setRelayKey db cxt user m (MemberKey relayKey) profile = do
+setRelayLinkAccepted :: DB.Connection -> StoreCxt -> User -> GroupMember -> MemberKey -> Profile -> ExceptT StoreError IO (GroupMember, GroupRelay)
+setRelayLinkAccepted db cxt user m (MemberKey relayKey) profile = do
   let gmId = groupMemberId' m
   currentTs <- liftIO getCurrentTime
+  liftIO $ DB.execute
+    db
+    [sql|
+      UPDATE group_relays
+      SET relay_status = ?, updated_at = ?
+      WHERE group_member_id = ?
+    |]
+    (RSAccepted, currentTs, gmId)
   liftIO $ DB.execute
     db
     [sql|
@@ -1861,9 +1869,9 @@ getRelayServedGroups db cxt User {userId, userContactId} = do
     <$> DB.query
       db
       ( groupInfoQuery
-          <> " WHERE g.user_id = ? AND mu.contact_id = ? AND g.relay_own_status IN (?, ?)"
+          <> " WHERE g.user_id = ? AND mu.contact_id = ? AND g.relay_own_status IN (?, ?, ?)"
       )
-      (userId, userContactId, RSAccepted, RSActive)
+      (userId, userContactId, RSAccepted, RSAcknowledgedRoster, RSActive)
 
 getRelayInactiveGroups :: DB.Connection -> StoreCxt -> User -> NominalDiffTime -> IO [GroupInfo]
 getRelayInactiveGroups db cxt User {userId, userContactId} ttl = do
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Types/Shared.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Types/Shared.hs
index 1f3d9dd5a8..296268b58f 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Types/Shared.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Types/Shared.hs
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ data RelayStatus
   = RSNew -- only for owner
   | RSInvited
   | RSAccepted
+  | RSAcknowledgedRoster
   | RSActive
   | RSInactive
   | RSRejected
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ relayStatusText = \case
   RSNew -> "new"
   RSInvited -> "invited"
   RSAccepted -> "accepted"
+  RSAcknowledgedRoster -> "acknowledged_roster"
   RSActive -> "active"
   RSInactive -> "inactive"
   RSRejected -> "rejected"
@@ -108,6 +110,7 @@ instance TextEncoding RelayStatus where
     RSNew -> "new"
     RSInvited -> "invited"
     RSAccepted -> "accepted"
+    RSAcknowledgedRoster -> "acknowledged_roster"
     RSActive -> "active"
     RSInactive -> "inactive"
     RSRejected -> "rejected"
@@ -115,6 +118,7 @@ instance TextEncoding RelayStatus where
     "new" -> Just RSNew
     "invited" -> Just RSInvited
     "accepted" -> Just RSAccepted
+    "acknowledged_roster" -> Just RSAcknowledgedRoster
     "active" -> Just RSActive
     "inactive" -> Just RSInactive
     "rejected" -> Just RSRejected