diff --git a/app/routers/contacts.py b/app/routers/contacts.py
index 99dcf05..e84c877 100644
--- a/app/routers/contacts.py
+++ b/app/routers/contacts.py
@@ -419,6 +419,7 @@ async def add_contact_to_radio(public_key: str) -> dict:
         # Check if already on radio
         radio_contact = mc.get_contact_by_key_prefix(contact.public_key[:12])
         if radio_contact:
+            await ContactRepository.set_on_radio(contact.public_key, True)
             return {"status": "ok", "message": "Contact already on radio"}
 
         logger.info("Adding contact %s to radio", contact.public_key[:12])
diff --git a/app/services/message_send.py b/app/services/message_send.py
index 2fd0d99..be15291 100644
--- a/app/services/message_send.py
+++ b/app/services/message_send.py
@@ -206,7 +206,6 @@ async def send_channel_message_to_channel(
     message_repository=MessageRepository,
 ) -> Any:
     """Send a channel message and persist/broadcast the outgoing row."""
-    message_id: int | None = None
     now: int | None = None
     radio_name = ""
     our_public_key: str | None = None
@@ -235,27 +234,27 @@ async def send_channel_message_to_channel(
         if result.type == EventType.ERROR:
             raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=f"Failed to send message: {result.payload}")
 
-        outgoing_message = await create_outgoing_channel_message(
-            conversation_key=channel_key_upper,
-            text=text_with_sender,
-            sender_timestamp=now,
-            received_at=now,
-            sender_name=radio_name or None,
-            sender_key=our_public_key,
-            channel_name=channel.name,
-            broadcast_fn=broadcast_fn,
-            message_repository=message_repository,
-        )
-        if outgoing_message is None:
-            raise HTTPException(
-                status_code=500,
-                detail="Failed to store outgoing message - unexpected duplicate",
-            )
-        message_id = outgoing_message.id
-
-    if message_id is None or now is None:
+    if now is None:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail="Failed to store outgoing message")
 
+    outgoing_message = await create_outgoing_channel_message(
+        conversation_key=channel_key_upper,
+        text=text_with_sender,
+        sender_timestamp=now,
+        received_at=now,
+        sender_name=radio_name or None,
+        sender_key=our_public_key,
+        channel_name=channel.name,
+        broadcast_fn=broadcast_fn,
+        message_repository=message_repository,
+    )
+    if outgoing_message is None:
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=500,
+            detail="Failed to store outgoing message - unexpected duplicate",
+        )
+
+    message_id = outgoing_message.id
     acked_count, paths = await message_repository.get_ack_and_paths(message_id)
     return build_message_model(
         message_id=message_id,
diff --git a/tests/test_contacts_router.py b/tests/test_contacts_router.py
index 7e28625..9af9242 100644
--- a/tests/test_contacts_router.py
+++ b/tests/test_contacts_router.py
@@ -954,8 +954,8 @@ class TestAddRemoveRadio:
 
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_add_already_on_radio(self, test_db, client):
-        """Adding a contact already on radio returns ok without calling add_contact."""
-        await _insert_contact(KEY_A, on_radio=True)
+        """Adding a contact already on radio repairs the DB flag and skips add_contact."""
+        await _insert_contact(KEY_A, on_radio=False)
 
         mock_mc = MagicMock()
         mock_mc.get_contact_by_key_prefix = MagicMock(return_value=MagicMock())  # On radio
@@ -966,6 +966,10 @@ class TestAddRemoveRadio:
 
         assert response.status_code == 200
         assert "already" in response.json()["message"].lower()
+        contact = await ContactRepository.get_by_key(KEY_A)
+        assert contact is not None
+        assert contact.on_radio is True
+        mock_mc.commands.add_contact.assert_not_called()
 
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_remove_from_radio(self, test_db, client):
diff --git a/tests/test_send_messages.py b/tests/test_send_messages.py
index 3a6cb4e..0197105 100644
--- a/tests/test_send_messages.py
+++ b/tests/test_send_messages.py
@@ -907,3 +907,35 @@ class TestConcurrentChannelSends:
             msg_type="CHAN", conversation_key=chan_key.upper(), limit=10
         )
         assert len(msgs) == 2
+
+
+class TestChannelSendLockScope:
+    """Channel send should release the radio lock before DB persistence work."""
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_channel_message_row_created_after_radio_lock_released(self, test_db):
+        mc = _make_mc(name="TestNode")
+        chan_key = "de" * 16
+        await ChannelRepository.upsert(key=chan_key, name="#lockscope")
+
+        observed_lock_states: list[bool] = []
+        original_create = MessageRepository.create
+
+        async def _assert_lock_then_create(*args, **kwargs):
+            observed_lock_states.append(bool(radio_manager._operation_lock.locked()))
+            return await original_create(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        with (
+            patch("app.routers.messages.require_connected", return_value=mc),
+            patch.object(radio_manager, "_meshcore", mc),
+            patch("app.routers.messages.broadcast_event"),
+            patch(
+                "app.services.message_send.MessageRepository.create",
+                side_effect=_assert_lock_then_create,
+            ),
+        ):
+            await send_channel_message(
+                SendChannelMessageRequest(channel_key=chan_key, text="Lock scope test")
+            )
+
+        assert observed_lock_states == [False]