diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index b813675..b2b7f7e 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -398,9 +398,11 @@ fn init_db(conn: &Connection) {
 }
 
 fn ensure_account(conn: &Connection, did: &str) {
+    // handle must be a valid handle format, not a DID
+    let handle = format!("{}.chat.invalid", did.split(':').last().unwrap_or("unknown"));
     conn.execute(
         "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO accounts (did, handle, created_at) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3)",
-        rusqlite::params![did, did, now_iso()],
+        rusqlite::params![did, handle, now_iso()],
     )
     .ok();
 }