diff --git a/src/app/components/floating-column/search/search.component.ts b/src/app/components/floating-column/search/search.component.ts
index 735d0dd0..d4704e11 100644
--- a/src/app/components/floating-column/search/search.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/floating-column/search/search.component.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { HttpErrorResponse } from '@angular/common/http';
 import { MastodonService } from '../../../services/mastodon.service';
 import { AccountInfo } from '../../../states/accounts.state';
 import { Results, Account } from '../../../services/models/mastodon.interfaces';
-import { ToolsService } from '../../../services/tools.service';
+import { ToolsService, OpenThreadEvent } from '../../../services/tools.service';
 import { StatusWrapper } from '../../stream/stream.component';
 import { NotificationService } from '../../../services/notification.service';
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export class SearchComponent implements OnInit {
 
     @Output() browseAccountEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
     @Output() browseHashtagEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
-    @Output() browseThreadEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
+    @Output() browseThreadEvent = new EventEmitter<OpenThreadEvent>();
 
     constructor(
         private readonly notificationService: NotificationService,
diff --git a/src/app/components/stream/hashtag/hashtag.component.ts b/src/app/components/stream/hashtag/hashtag.component.ts
index 7760d2a0..917898d5 100644
--- a/src/app/components/stream/hashtag/hashtag.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/stream/hashtag/hashtag.component.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { Subject } from 'rxjs';
 import { Store } from '@ngxs/store';
 
 import { StreamElement, StreamTypeEnum, AddStream } from '../../../states/streams.state';
+import { OpenThreadEvent } from '../../../services/tools.service';
 
 @Component({
     selector: 'app-hashtag',
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ import { StreamElement, StreamTypeEnum, AddStream } from '../../../states/stream
 export class HashtagComponent implements OnInit {
     @Output() browseAccountEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
     @Output() browseHashtagEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
-    @Output() browseThreadEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
+    @Output() browseThreadEvent = new EventEmitter<OpenThreadEvent>();
 
     @Input() hashtagElement: StreamElement;
 
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ export class HashtagComponent implements OnInit {
         this.browseHashtagEvent.next(hashtag);
     }
 
-    browseThread(statusUri: string): void {
-        this.browseThreadEvent.next(statusUri);
+    browseThread(openThreadEvent: OpenThreadEvent): void {
+        this.browseThreadEvent.next(openThreadEvent);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/components/stream/status/status.component.ts b/src/app/components/stream/status/status.component.ts
index 15a50e53..66e02e7b 100644
--- a/src/app/components/stream/status/status.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/stream/status/status.component.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { Component, OnInit, Input, Output, EventEmitter } from "@angular/core";
 import { Status, Account } from "../../../services/models/mastodon.interfaces";
 import { StatusWrapper } from "../stream.component";
+import { OpenThreadEvent } from "../../../services/tools.service";
 
 @Component({
     selector: "app-status",
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ export class StatusComponent implements OnInit {
 
     @Output() browseAccountEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
     @Output() browseHashtagEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
-    @Output() browseThreadEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
+    @Output() browseThreadEvent = new EventEmitter<OpenThreadEvent>();
 
     private _statusWrapper: StatusWrapper;
     status: Status;
@@ -78,11 +79,15 @@ export class StatusComponent implements OnInit {
 
     textSelected(): void {
         const status = this._statusWrapper.status;
+        const accountInfo = this._statusWrapper.provider;
 
-        if (status.reblog) {            
-            this.browseThreadEvent.next(status.reblog.uri);
+        let openThread: OpenThreadEvent;
+        if (status.reblog) {    
+            openThread = new OpenThreadEvent(status.reblog, accountInfo);            
         } else {
-            this.browseThreadEvent.next(this._statusWrapper.status.uri);
+            openThread = new OpenThreadEvent(status, accountInfo);
         }
+
+        this.browseThreadEvent.next(openThread);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/components/stream/stream-overlay/stream-overlay.component.ts b/src/app/components/stream/stream-overlay/stream-overlay.component.ts
index fec67403..5beca3af 100644
--- a/src/app/components/stream/stream-overlay/stream-overlay.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/stream/stream-overlay/stream-overlay.component.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { Component, OnInit, Output, EventEmitter, Input } from '@angular/core';
 import { Account, Results } from "../../../services/models/mastodon.interfaces";
 import { MastodonService } from '../../../services/mastodon.service';
-import { ToolsService } from '../../../services/tools.service';
+import { ToolsService, OpenThreadEvent } from '../../../services/tools.service';
 import { StreamElement, StreamTypeEnum } from '../../../states/streams.state';
 
 @Component({
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export class StreamOverlayComponent implements OnInit {
     canGoForward: boolean;
 
     accountName: string;
-    thread: string;
+    thread: OpenThreadEvent;
     // hashtag: string;
     hashtagElement: StreamElement;
 
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ export class StreamOverlayComponent implements OnInit {
     }
 
     @Input('browseThreadData')
-    set browseThreadData(statusUri: string) {
-        this.browseThread(statusUri);
+    set browseThreadData(openThread: OpenThreadEvent) {
+        this.browseThread(openThread);
     }
 
     @Input('browseHashtagData')
@@ -116,15 +116,15 @@ export class StreamOverlayComponent implements OnInit {
         this.canGoForward = false;
     }
 
-    browseThread(statusUri: string): any {
-        if(!statusUri) return;
+    browseThread(openThread: OpenThreadEvent): any {
+        if(!openThread) return;
 
         this.nextElements.length = 0;
         if (this.currentElement) {
             this.previousElements.push(this.currentElement);
         }
 
-        const newElement = new OverlayBrowsing(null, null, statusUri);
+        const newElement = new OverlayBrowsing(null, null, openThread);
         this.loadElement(newElement);
         this.canGoForward = false;
     }
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ class OverlayBrowsing {
     constructor(
         public readonly hashtag: StreamElement,
         public readonly account: string,
-        public readonly thread: string) {
+        public readonly thread: OpenThreadEvent) {
 
         if (hashtag) {
             this.type = OverlayEnum.hashtag;
diff --git a/src/app/components/stream/stream-statuses/stream-statuses.component.html b/src/app/components/stream/stream-statuses/stream-statuses.component.html
index e9f6dec7..7c38a49f 100644
--- a/src/app/components/stream/stream-statuses/stream-statuses.component.html
+++ b/src/app/components/stream/stream-statuses/stream-statuses.component.html
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 <div class="stream-toots flexcroll" #statusstream (scroll)="onScroll()">
     <app-waiting-animation *ngIf="isLoading" class="waiting-icon"></app-waiting-animation>
 
+    <div *ngIf="displayError">{{displayError}}</div>
+
     <!-- data-simplebar  -->
     <div class="stream-toots__status" *ngFor="let statusWrapper of statuses">
         <app-status [statusWrapper]="statusWrapper" (browseAccountEvent)="browseAccount($event)" (browseHashtagEvent)="browseHashtag($event)"
diff --git a/src/app/components/stream/stream-statuses/stream-statuses.component.ts b/src/app/components/stream/stream-statuses/stream-statuses.component.ts
index f1bde72a..b3dbd009 100644
--- a/src/app/components/stream/stream-statuses/stream-statuses.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/stream/stream-statuses/stream-statuses.component.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { Status } from '../../../services/models/mastodon.interfaces';
 import { MastodonService } from '../../../services/mastodon.service';
 import { StatusWrapper } from '../stream.component';
 import { NotificationService } from '../../../services/notification.service';
+import { OpenThreadEvent } from '../../../services/tools.service';
 
 @Component({
     selector: 'app-stream-statuses',
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ import { NotificationService } from '../../../services/notification.service';
 })
 export class StreamStatusesComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
     isLoading = false; //TODO
+    displayError: string;
 
     private _streamElement: StreamElement;
     private account: AccountInfo;
@@ -29,7 +31,7 @@ export class StreamStatusesComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
 
     @Output() browseAccountEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
     @Output() browseHashtagEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
-    @Output() browseThreadEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
+    @Output() browseThreadEvent = new EventEmitter<OpenThreadEvent>();
 
     @Input()
     set streamElement(streamElement: StreamElement) {
@@ -135,8 +137,8 @@ export class StreamStatusesComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
         this.browseHashtagEvent.next(hashtag);
     }
 
-    browseThread(statusUri: string): void {
-        this.browseThreadEvent.next(statusUri);
+    browseThread(openThreadEvent: OpenThreadEvent): void {
+        this.browseThreadEvent.next(openThreadEvent);
     }
 
     textSelected(): void {
diff --git a/src/app/components/stream/stream.component.ts b/src/app/components/stream/stream.component.ts
index fbc26ba7..8a252728 100644
--- a/src/app/components/stream/stream.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/stream/stream.component.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { faHome, faGlobe, faUser, faHashtag, faListUl, faBars, IconDefinition }
 import { StreamElement, StreamTypeEnum } from "../../states/streams.state";
 import { Status } from "../../services/models/mastodon.interfaces";
 import { AccountInfo } from "../../states/accounts.state";
+import { OpenThreadEvent } from "../../services/tools.service";
 
 @Component({
     selector: "app-stream",
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ export class StreamComponent implements OnInit {
     overlayActive: boolean;
     overlayAccountToBrowse: string;
     overlayHashtagToBrowse: string;
-    overlayThreadToBrowse: string;
+    overlayThreadToBrowse: OpenThreadEvent;
 
     goToTopSubject: Subject<void> = new Subject<void>();
 
@@ -75,10 +76,10 @@ export class StreamComponent implements OnInit {
         this.overlayActive = true;
     }
 
-    browseThread(statusUri: string): void {
+    browseThread(openThreadEvent: OpenThreadEvent): void {
         this.overlayAccountToBrowse = null;
         this.overlayHashtagToBrowse = null;
-        this.overlayThreadToBrowse = statusUri;
+        this.overlayThreadToBrowse = openThreadEvent;
         this.overlayActive = true;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/app/components/stream/thread/thread.component.ts b/src/app/components/stream/thread/thread.component.ts
index 60f399cb..de30c3f0 100644
--- a/src/app/components/stream/thread/thread.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/stream/thread/thread.component.ts
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@ import { HttpErrorResponse } from '@angular/common/http';
 
 import { StatusWrapper } from '../stream.component';
 import { MastodonService } from '../../../services/mastodon.service';
-import { ToolsService } from '../../../services/tools.service';
-import { Results, Context } from '../../../services/models/mastodon.interfaces';
+import { ToolsService, OpenThreadEvent } from '../../../services/tools.service';
+import { Results, Context, Status } from '../../../services/models/mastodon.interfaces';
 import { NotificationService } from '../../../services/notification.service';
+import { AccountInfo } from '../../../states/accounts.state';
 
 @Component({
     selector: 'app-thread',
@@ -15,13 +16,14 @@ import { NotificationService } from '../../../services/notification.service';
 export class ThreadComponent implements OnInit {
     statuses: StatusWrapper[] = [];
     isLoading: boolean;
+    displayError: string;
 
     @Output() browseAccountEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
     @Output() browseHashtagEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
-    @Output() browseThreadEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
+    @Output() browseThreadEvent = new EventEmitter<OpenThreadEvent>();
 
     @Input('currentThread')
-    set currentThread(thread: string) {
+    set currentThread(thread: OpenThreadEvent) {
         if (thread) {
             this.isLoading = true;
             this.getThread(thread);
@@ -36,33 +38,58 @@ export class ThreadComponent implements OnInit {
     ngOnInit() {
     }
 
-    private getThread(thread: string) {
+    private getThread(openThreadEvent: OpenThreadEvent) {
         this.statuses.length = 0;
 
         let currentAccount = this.toolsService.getSelectedAccounts()[0];
 
-        this.mastodonService.search(currentAccount, thread, true)
-            .then((result: Results) => {
-                if (result.statuses.length === 1) {
-                    const retrievedStatus = result.statuses[0];
-                    this.mastodonService.getStatusContext(currentAccount, retrievedStatus.id)
-                        .then((context: Context) => {
-                            this.isLoading = false;
-                            let contextStatuses = [...context.ancestors, retrievedStatus, ...context.descendants]
+        const status = openThreadEvent.status;
+        const sourceAccount = openThreadEvent.sourceAccount;
 
-                            for (const s of contextStatuses) {
-                                const wrapper = new StatusWrapper(s, currentAccount);
-                                this.statuses.push(wrapper);
-                            }
-                        });
-                } else {
-                    //TODO handle error
-                    this.isLoading = false;
-                    console.error('could not retrieve status');
-                }
-            })
-            .catch((err: HttpErrorResponse) => {
-                this.notificationService.notifyHttpError(err);
+        if (status.visibility === 'public' || status.visibility === 'unlisted') {
+            var statusPromise: Promise<Status> = Promise.resolve(status);
+
+            if (sourceAccount.id !== currentAccount.id) {
+                statusPromise = this.mastodonService.search(currentAccount, status.uri, true)
+                    .then((result: Results) => {
+                        if (result.statuses.length === 1) {
+                            const retrievedStatus = result.statuses[0];
+                            return retrievedStatus;
+                        }
+                        throw new Error('could not find status');
+                    });
+            }
+
+            this.retrieveThread(currentAccount, statusPromise);
+
+        } else if (sourceAccount.id === currentAccount.id) {
+
+            var statusPromise = Promise.resolve(status);
+            this.retrieveThread(currentAccount, statusPromise);
+
+        } else {
+            this.isLoading = false;
+            this.displayError = `You need to use your account ${sourceAccount.username}@${sourceAccount.instance} to show this thread`;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private retrieveThread(currentAccount: AccountInfo, pipeline: Promise<Status>) {
+        pipeline
+            .then((status: Status) => {
+                this.mastodonService.getStatusContext(currentAccount, status.id)
+                    .then((context: Context) => {
+                        this.isLoading = false;
+                        let contextStatuses = [...context.ancestors, status, ...context.descendants]
+
+                        for (const s of contextStatuses) {
+                            const wrapper = new StatusWrapper(s, currentAccount);
+                            this.statuses.push(wrapper);
+                        }
+                    })
+                    .catch((err: HttpErrorResponse) => {
+                        this.isLoading = false;
+                        this.notificationService.notifyHttpError(err);
+                    });
             });
     }
 
@@ -78,7 +105,7 @@ export class ThreadComponent implements OnInit {
         this.browseHashtagEvent.next(hashtag);
     }
 
-    browseThread(statusUri: string): void {
-        this.browseThreadEvent.next(statusUri);
+    browseThread(openThreadEvent: OpenThreadEvent): void {
+        this.browseThreadEvent.next(openThreadEvent);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/components/stream/user-profile/user-profile.component.ts b/src/app/components/stream/user-profile/user-profile.component.ts
index 72c825cd..f5488e5f 100644
--- a/src/app/components/stream/user-profile/user-profile.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/stream/user-profile/user-profile.component.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { HttpErrorResponse } from '@angular/common/http';
 
 import { Account, Status} from "../../../services/models/mastodon.interfaces";
 import { MastodonService } from '../../../services/mastodon.service';
-import { ToolsService } from '../../../services/tools.service';
+import { ToolsService, OpenThreadEvent } from '../../../services/tools.service';
 import { StatusWrapper } from '../stream.component';
 import { NotificationService } from '../../../services/notification.service';
 
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export class UserProfileComponent implements OnInit {
 
     @Output() browseAccountEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
     @Output() browseHashtagEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
-    @Output() browseThreadEvent = new EventEmitter<string>();
+    @Output() browseThreadEvent = new EventEmitter<OpenThreadEvent>();
 
     @Input('currentAccount')
     //set currentAccount(account: Account) {
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ export class UserProfileComponent implements OnInit {
         this.browseHashtagEvent.next(hashtag);
     }
 
-    browseThread(statusUri: string): void {
-        this.browseThreadEvent.next(statusUri);
+    browseThread(openThreadEvent: OpenThreadEvent): void {
+        this.browseThreadEvent.next(openThreadEvent);
     }
 
     private loadAccount(accountName: string): Promise<Account> {
diff --git a/src/app/services/tools.service.ts b/src/app/services/tools.service.ts
index 35c0cbba..b07e8bde 100644
--- a/src/app/services/tools.service.ts
+++ b/src/app/services/tools.service.ts
@@ -52,5 +52,12 @@ export class ToolsService {
 
         return statusPromise;
     }
-
+}
+
+export class OpenThreadEvent {
+    constructor(
+        public status: Status,
+        public sourceAccount: AccountInfo
+    ) {
+    }
 }