diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Subscriber.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Subscriber.hs
index 1ada54b4f7..15a6d6c8bd 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Subscriber.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Subscriber.hs
@@ -2900,8 +2900,13 @@ processAgentMessageConn vr user@User {userId} corrId agentConnId agentMessage =
               | otherwise ->
                   messageError "x.grp.mem.intro ignored: member already exists"
             Left _
-              | useRelays' gInfo ->
-                  void $ withStore $ \db -> createIntroReMember db user gInfo memInfo memRestrictions
+              | useRelays' gInfo -> do
+                  -- owner key must only come from link data, not from relay intro
+                  let memInfo' = case memInfo of
+                        MemberInfo mId mRole v p _
+                          | mRole == GROwner -> MemberInfo mId mRole v p Nothing
+                        _ -> memInfo
+                  void $ withStore $ \db -> createIntroReMember db user gInfo memInfo' memRestrictions
               | otherwise -> do
                   when (memberRole < GRAdmin) $ throwChatError (CEGroupContactRole c)
                   case memChatVRange of
diff --git a/tests/ChatTests/Groups.hs b/tests/ChatTests/Groups.hs
index 0685d609e6..3c6a29c4e3 100644
--- a/tests/ChatTests/Groups.hs
+++ b/tests/ChatTests/Groups.hs
@@ -8854,6 +8854,8 @@ testChannelOwnerKeyAfterLinkUpdate ps =
           (shortLink, fullLink) <- prepareChannel1Relay "team" alice bob
           memberJoinChannel "team" [bob] [alice] shortLink fullLink cath
 
+          threadDelay 100000
+
           -- Owner updates channel profile - triggers rebuilding link data.
           alice ##> "/gp team my_team My team description"
           alice <## "changed to #my_team (My team description)"
@@ -8875,6 +8877,8 @@ testChannelOwnerKeyAfterLinkUpdate ps =
           fullLink' `shouldBe` fullLink
           memberJoinChannel "my_team" [bob] [alice] shortLink' fullLink' dan
 
+          threadDelay 100000
+
           -- Verify owner member record in late subscriber's DB has a public key.
           ownerKeyPresent <- withCCTransaction dan $ \db ->
             DB.query_ db "SELECT COUNT(1) FROM group_members WHERE member_role = 'owner' AND member_pub_key IS NOT NULL" :: IO [[Int]]