diff --git a/Flipcash/Core/Screens/Conversation/ConversationGate.swift b/Flipcash/Core/Screens/Conversation/ConversationGate.swift
index 063f84c41..07aa4f4c6 100644
--- a/Flipcash/Core/Screens/Conversation/ConversationGate.swift
+++ b/Flipcash/Core/Screens/Conversation/ConversationGate.swift
@@ -101,9 +101,10 @@ struct ConversationGate: Equatable {
 /// unless it equals the viewer, so an unknown creator fails closed. Staff get no bypass: only an
 /// explicit `.staff` rule looks at staff standing.
 ///
-/// `rules` is nil for every non-group chat and for a group whose metadata hasn't
-/// hydrated yet; both are open, as is an empty rule list — the contract
-/// documents empty as "anyone can". `rates` is `RatesController.cachedRates`,
+/// `rules` is nil for most DMs and for a group whose metadata hasn't hydrated
+/// yet; both are open, as is an empty rule list — the contract documents empty
+/// as "anyone can". Some DMs do carry rules (the Flipcash account's DM has a
+/// `never` speaker rule), and they are evaluated the same way. `rates` is `RatesController.cachedRates`,
 /// needed only to restate a requirement the server denominated in something
 /// other than USD.
 ///
diff --git a/Flipcash/Core/Screens/Conversation/ConversationScreen.swift b/Flipcash/Core/Screens/Conversation/ConversationScreen.swift
index 6246c4c5d..16787f3a0 100644
--- a/Flipcash/Core/Screens/Conversation/ConversationScreen.swift
+++ b/Flipcash/Core/Screens/Conversation/ConversationScreen.swift
@@ -267,13 +267,18 @@ struct ConversationScreen: View {
     }
 
     /// The chat's participation rules weighed against the signed-in user: what the bottom of the
-    /// screen draws, and whether the transcript is readable at all. `.open` for every DM and for a
-    /// group with no rules.
+    /// screen draws, and whether the transcript is readable at all. `.open` for a chat with no rules.
+    ///
+    /// Not limited to groups: the server sends rules on some DMs too — the Flipcash account's DM
+    /// carries a `never` speaker rule — and a DM participant is always a member, so its speaker
+    /// rules close the composer the same way a group's do.
     ///
     /// Recomputed on each observation tick rather than cached, so a balance that crosses the
     /// requirement — or a rate that finally loads — opens the chat without a reopen.
     private var gate: ConversationGatePresentation {
-        guard let conversation = groupConversation else {
+        guard let conversationID,
+              let conversation = conversationController.conversation(withID: conversationID)
+        else {
             return awaitingMetadata ? .undetermined : .open
         }
         return conversationGatePresentation(gateVerdicts, isMember: conversationController.isMember(of: conversation))
@@ -301,7 +306,9 @@ struct ConversationScreen: View {
     /// advertised listener rule (``ConversationGate/headline``) whether or not the viewer is short
     /// of it, and the presentation only ever carries something unmet.
     private var gateVerdicts: ConversationGate {
-        guard let conversation = groupConversation else { return .open }
+        guard let conversationID,
+              let conversation = conversationController.conversation(withID: conversationID)
+        else { return .open }
         return conversationGate(
             session: session,
             rules: conversation.rules,