diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 685d8c01bd..e63cbac561 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ Bugfix 🐛:
  - Render image event even if thumbnail_info does not have mimetype defined (#1209)
  - RiotX now uses as many threads as it needs to do work and send messages (#1221)
  - Fix issue with media path (#1227)
+ - Add user to direct chat by user id (#1065)
 
 Translations 🗣:
  -
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/riotx/features/createdirect/CreateDirectRoomActivity.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/riotx/features/createdirect/CreateDirectRoomActivity.kt
index 12674e5cd2..3ae206cd21 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/riotx/features/createdirect/CreateDirectRoomActivity.kt
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/riotx/features/createdirect/CreateDirectRoomActivity.kt
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import com.airbnb.mvrx.Fail
 import com.airbnb.mvrx.Loading
 import com.airbnb.mvrx.Success
 import com.airbnb.mvrx.viewModel
+import im.vector.matrix.android.api.failure.Failure
 import im.vector.matrix.android.api.session.room.failure.CreateRoomFailure
 import im.vector.riotx.R
 import im.vector.riotx.core.di.ScreenComponent
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ import im.vector.riotx.core.extensions.addFragmentToBackstack
 import im.vector.riotx.core.platform.SimpleFragmentActivity
 import im.vector.riotx.core.platform.WaitingViewData
 import kotlinx.android.synthetic.main.activity.*
+import java.net.HttpURLConnection
 import javax.inject.Inject
 
 class CreateDirectRoomActivity : SimpleFragmentActivity() {
@@ -91,8 +93,14 @@ class CreateDirectRoomActivity : SimpleFragmentActivity() {
         if (error is CreateRoomFailure.CreatedWithTimeout) {
             finish()
         } else {
+            val message = if (error is Failure.ServerError && error.httpCode == HttpURLConnection.HTTP_INTERNAL_ERROR /*500*/) {
+                // This error happen if the invited userId does not exist.
+                getString(R.string.create_room_dm_failure)
+            } else {
+                errorFormatter.toHumanReadable(error)
+            }
             AlertDialog.Builder(this)
-                    .setMessage(errorFormatter.toHumanReadable(error))
+                    .setMessage(message)
                     .setPositiveButton(R.string.ok, null)
                     .show()
         }
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/riotx/features/createdirect/DirectoryUsersController.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/riotx/features/createdirect/DirectoryUsersController.kt
index 016806f319..1c38e6f723 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/riotx/features/createdirect/DirectoryUsersController.kt
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/riotx/features/createdirect/DirectoryUsersController.kt
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import com.airbnb.mvrx.Fail
 import com.airbnb.mvrx.Loading
 import com.airbnb.mvrx.Success
 import com.airbnb.mvrx.Uninitialized
+import im.vector.matrix.android.api.MatrixPatterns
 import im.vector.matrix.android.api.session.Session
 import im.vector.matrix.android.api.session.user.model.User
 import im.vector.matrix.android.api.util.toMatrixItem
@@ -56,15 +57,29 @@ class DirectoryUsersController @Inject constructor(private val session: Session,
     override fun buildModels() {
         val currentState = state ?: return
         val hasSearch = currentState.directorySearchTerm.isNotBlank()
-        val asyncUsers = currentState.directoryUsers
-        when (asyncUsers) {
+        when (val asyncUsers = currentState.directoryUsers) {
             is Uninitialized -> renderEmptyState(false)
             is Loading       -> renderLoading()
-            is Success       -> renderSuccess(asyncUsers(), currentState.selectedUsers.map { it.userId }, hasSearch)
+            is Success       -> renderSuccess(
+                    computeUsersList(asyncUsers(), currentState.directorySearchTerm),
+                    currentState.selectedUsers.map { it.userId },
+                    hasSearch
+            )
             is Fail          -> renderFailure(asyncUsers.error)
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Eventually add the searched terms, if it is a userId, and if not already present in the result
+     */
+    private fun computeUsersList(directoryUsers: List<User>, searchTerms: String): List<User> {
+        return directoryUsers +
+                searchTerms
+                        .takeIf { terms -> MatrixPatterns.isUserId(terms) && !directoryUsers.any { it.userId == terms } }
+                        ?.let { listOf(User(it)) }
+                        .orEmpty()
+    }
+
     private fun renderLoading() {
         loadingItem {
             id("loading")
diff --git a/vector/src/main/res/values/strings_riotX.xml b/vector/src/main/res/values/strings_riotX.xml
index 932feba541..cb1c8323f2 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/res/values/strings_riotX.xml
+++ b/vector/src/main/res/values/strings_riotX.xml
@@ -30,4 +30,5 @@
 
     <!-- END Strings added by Others -->
 
+    <string name="create_room_dm_failure">"We couldn't create your DM. Please check the users you want to invite and try again."</string>
 </resources>