diff --git a/app/static/js/dm.js b/app/static/js/dm.js
index e500049..51ad209 100644
--- a/app/static/js/dm.js
+++ b/app/static/js/dm.js
@@ -12,6 +12,15 @@ let dmLastSeenTimestamps = {};
 let autoRefreshInterval = null;
 let lastMessageTimestamp = 0;  // Track latest message timestamp for smart refresh
 
+/**
+ * Get display-friendly name (truncate full pubkeys to short prefix)
+ */
+function displayName(name) {
+    if (!name) return 'Unknown';
+    if (/^[0-9a-f]{64}$/i.test(name)) return name.substring(0, 8) + '...';
+    return name;
+}
+
 // Initialize on page load
 document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', async function() {
     console.log('DM page initialized');
@@ -223,12 +232,7 @@ function populateConversationSelector() {
             const lastSeen = dmLastSeenTimestamps[conv.conversation_id] || 0;
             const isUnread = conv.last_message_timestamp > lastSeen;
 
-            // If display_name is a full pubkey, show short prefix
-            let displayName = conv.display_name;
-            if (/^[0-9a-f]{64}$/i.test(displayName)) {
-                displayName = displayName.substring(0, 8) + '...';
-            }
-            let label = displayName;
+            let label = displayName(conv.display_name);
             if (isUnread) {
                 label = `* ${label}`;
             }
@@ -292,12 +296,7 @@ async function selectConversation(conversationId) {
     // Find the conversation to get recipient name
     const conv = dmConversations.find(c => c.conversation_id === conversationId);
     if (conv && conv.display_name) {
-        // If display_name is a full pubkey (64 hex chars), show short prefix
-        if (/^[0-9a-f]{64}$/i.test(conv.display_name)) {
-            currentRecipient = conv.display_name.substring(0, 8) + '...';
-        } else {
-            currentRecipient = conv.display_name;
-        }
+        currentRecipient = conv.display_name;
     } else {
         // Extract name from conversation_id
         if (conversationId.startsWith('name_')) {
@@ -320,7 +319,7 @@ async function selectConversation(conversationId) {
     const sendBtn = document.getElementById('dmSendBtn');
     if (input) {
         input.disabled = false;
-        input.placeholder = `Message ${currentRecipient}...`;
+        input.placeholder = `Message ${displayName(currentRecipient)}...`;
     }
     if (sendBtn) {
         sendBtn.disabled = false;
@@ -390,7 +389,7 @@ async function loadMessages() {
                 currentRecipient = data.display_name;
                 const input = document.getElementById('dmMessageInput');
                 if (input) {
-                    input.placeholder = `Message ${currentRecipient}...`;
+                    input.placeholder = `Message ${displayName(currentRecipient)}...`;
                 }
             }