diff --git a/public/language/en-GB/error.json b/public/language/en-GB/error.json
index d849187bae..c8d52acb6e 100644
--- a/public/language/en-GB/error.json
+++ b/public/language/en-GB/error.json
@@ -179,6 +179,7 @@
 
 	"cant-chat-with-yourself": "You can't chat with yourself!",
 	"chat-restricted": "This user has restricted their chat messages. They must follow you before you can chat with them",
+	"chat-user-blocked": "You have been blocked by this user.",
 	"chat-disabled": "Chat system disabled",
 	"too-many-messages": "You have sent too many messages, please wait awhile.",
 	"invalid-chat-message": "Invalid chat message",
diff --git a/src/messaging/index.js b/src/messaging/index.js
index 7a2cd617a6..eda2bd4ac0 100644
--- a/src/messaging/index.js
+++ b/src/messaging/index.js
@@ -363,7 +363,10 @@ Messaging.canMessageUser = async (uid, toUid) => {
 		user.blocks.is(uid, toUid),
 	]);
 
-	if (isBlocked || (settings.restrictChat && !isAdmin && !isModerator && !isFollowing)) {
+	if (isBlocked) {
+		throw new Error('[[error:chat-user-blocked]]');
+	}
+	if (settings.restrictChat && !isAdmin && !isModerator && !isFollowing) {
 		throw new Error('[[error:chat-restricted]]');
 	}