diff --git a/packages/chat/src/client/effects.js b/packages/chat/src/client/effects.js
index ca48bbe..19e3e48 100644
--- a/packages/chat/src/client/effects.js
+++ b/packages/chat/src/client/effects.js
@@ -33,16 +33,21 @@ export default ({config: {'%socket': socket}}) => {
     },
     [submitJoin]: async ({dispatch}, {payload}) => {
       const {channel} = payload;
-      const {canonical, messages, users} = await socket.send(['Join', payload]);
-      const realChannel = canonical ? parseChannel(canonical) : channel;
-      dispatch(join({
-        channel: realChannel,
-        messages,
-        users,
-      }));
-      dispatch(addRecent(realChannel));
-      if (canonical) {
-        dispatch(push(`/chat${canonical}`));
+      try {
+        const {canonical, messages, users} = await socket.send(['Join', payload]);
+        const realChannel = canonical ? parseChannel(canonical) : channel;
+        dispatch(join({
+          channel: realChannel,
+          messages,
+          users,
+        }));
+        dispatch(addRecent(realChannel));
+        if (canonical) {
+          dispatch(push(`/chat${canonical}`));
+        }
+      }
+      catch (error) {
+        dispatch(push('/chat'));
       }
     },
     [submitLeave]: async ({dispatch}, {payload}) => {
diff --git a/packages/chat/src/index.js b/packages/chat/src/index.js
index bc1cf33..f6b6655 100644
--- a/packages/chat/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/chat/src/index.js
@@ -37,10 +37,15 @@ export default {
       req.channel = channel;
       if (validateChannel(channel)) {
         const rendered = renderChannel(channel);
-        const chat = await ensureCanonical(latus, channel);
-        if (chat.name !== rendered) {
-          res.redirect(`/chat${chat.name}`);
-          return;
+        try {
+          const chat = await ensureCanonical(latus, channel);
+          if (chat.name !== rendered) {
+            res.redirect(`/chat${chat.name}`);
+            return;
+          }
+        }
+        catch (error) {
+          res.redirect('/chat');
         }
       }
       next();
diff --git a/packages/chat/src/packets/join.server.js b/packages/chat/src/packets/join.server.js
index 3d7de95..5a692c1 100644
--- a/packages/chat/src/packets/join.server.js
+++ b/packages/chat/src/packets/join.server.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import {ModelMap} from '@latus/db';
+import {parseChannel} from '@reddichat/core';
 
 import ensureCanonical from '../ensure-canonical';
 import joinChannel from '../join-channel';
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ export default (latus) => class JoinServer extends Join(latus) {
     const {req} = socket;
     const {User} = ModelMap(latus);
     const chat = await ensureCanonical(latus, channel);
-    const canonical = {...channel, name: chat.name};
+    const canonical = parseChannel(chat.name);
     await joinChannel(latus, canonical, socket);
     const state = await channelState(req, latus, canonical);
     const usernames = Object.fromEntries(await Promise.all(