diff --git a/e2e/USER_STORIES.md b/e2e/USER_STORIES.md
index ec395e16..c7e52eb9 100644
--- a/e2e/USER_STORIES.md
+++ b/e2e/USER_STORIES.md
@@ -526,6 +526,21 @@ Acceptance:
   a conversation with bob appears in her list without a reload.
 - Opening it shows his message.
 
+### US-108 — Read messages from a relay you only use for messages
+
+As alice, I want the conversations on my messaging relay to load even when that relay is not one
+of my spaces, so that direct messages work wherever I have pointed them.
+
+Acceptance:
+
+- With alice's messaging relays naming a relay she has not joined and neither reads from nor
+  publishes to, a conversation held there still appears in her chat list and opens with its
+  history.
+- That relay hands her messages to nobody but her, so her messaging relay list is the only thing
+  that can vouch for her to it.
+- A messaging relay list written by another client, naming the same relay without the trailing
+  slash, is honoured the same way.
+
 ## Articles & threads
 
 ### US-037 — Write and publish an article
@@ -1565,6 +1580,14 @@ navigation off the app's origin, so nothing about the destination is observable.
 logs into a DM to the platform's support contact. It targets a hardcoded pubkey
 whose relays are not part of the sealed test network.
 
+**A network read that fails.** Every relay a scenario declares answers, and a url the container
+does not serve is answered by an empty relay rather than refused, so no spec can express a read
+that fails. That leaves one invariant untested: a send whose reads fail before the message exists
+must keep the text in the composer and say so, rather than clearing as though it went. It is the
+shape of the bug that motivated US-108 — `@welshman/store`'s `load` rejects rather than resolving
+empty, so a failure there aborts a publish before its thunk is made and nothing reaches the
+timeline to carry a status. Testing it needs a seam for making a relay unusable.
+
 **Internals with no user-visible surface.** The legacy session-storage format
 migration, which has no observable difference and no supported way to seed the
 old shape. `ProfileFeed` and `ProfileLatest` components that no route reaches.
diff --git a/e2e/specs/dms.spec.ts b/e2e/specs/dms.spec.ts
index 94ff6f0a..8acfb767 100644
--- a/e2e/specs/dms.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/specs/dms.spec.ts
@@ -611,3 +611,44 @@ test("US-036 receive a new conversation live", async ({seed, as}) => {
 
   await expect(bubble(alice, "starting a chat with you")).toBeVisible()
 })
+
+test("US-108 read messages from a relay you only use for messages", async ({seed, as}) => {
+  await seed(({relay, user, at}) => {
+    const space = relay("space")
+    const inbox = relay("other")
+
+    seedPerson(space, user.alice, "Alice Anchor")
+    seedPerson(space, user.bob, "Bob Barnacle")
+    enableDms(space, user.bob)
+
+    // Alice's inbox is a relay she has nothing else to do with: not a space she has joined, and
+    // not one of her read or write relays. Membership of it is only what lets a wrap addressed to
+    // her be stored there — it never reaches her room list — so her messaging relay list is the
+    // one thing that can vouch for her, and the relay serves her nothing until it does.
+    inbox.member(user.alice)
+
+    // Tagged verbatim rather than through setUrls, which normalizes on the way in. A list written
+    // by another client is where a url missing its trailing slash comes from, and the relay it
+    // names is the same relay either way.
+    space.event(user.alice, () =>
+      space
+        .kind(MessagingRelayList)
+        .writer()
+        .addTags(["relay", inbox.url.replace(/\/$/, "")])
+        .renderTemplate(),
+    )
+
+    inbox.dm(user.bob, [user.alice], "over on your inbox relay", at(2, HOUR))
+  })
+
+  const page = await as(users.alice, "/chat")
+
+  const conversation = chatItems(page).filter({hasText: "over on your inbox relay"})
+
+  await expect(conversation).toContainText("Bob Barnacle")
+
+  await conversation.click()
+
+  await expect(pageBar(page)).toContainText("Bob Barnacle")
+  await expect(bubble(page, "over on your inbox relay")).toBeVisible()
+})
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 020df8f0..f0f32d48 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -78,16 +78,16 @@
     "@types/throttle-debounce": "^5.0.2",
     "@vite-pwa/assets-generator": "^1.0.2",
     "@vite-pwa/sveltekit": "^1.1.0",
-    "@welshman/app": "^0.9.5",
-    "@welshman/content": "^0.9.5",
-    "@welshman/domain": "^0.9.5",
-    "@welshman/editor": "^0.9.5",
-    "@welshman/feeds": "^0.9.5",
-    "@welshman/lib": "^0.9.5",
-    "@welshman/net": "^0.9.5",
-    "@welshman/signer": "^0.9.5",
-    "@welshman/store": "^0.9.5",
-    "@welshman/util": "^0.9.5",
+    "@welshman/app": "^0.9.6",
+    "@welshman/content": "^0.9.6",
+    "@welshman/domain": "^0.9.6",
+    "@welshman/editor": "^0.9.6",
+    "@welshman/feeds": "^0.9.6",
+    "@welshman/lib": "^0.9.6",
+    "@welshman/net": "^0.9.6",
+    "@welshman/signer": "^0.9.6",
+    "@welshman/store": "^0.9.6",
+    "@welshman/util": "^0.9.6",
     "cheerio": "^1.2.0",
     "compressorjs-next": "^1.1.2",
     "dompurify": "^3.4.13",
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index ba86ce8f..5cf38531 100644
Binary files a/pnpm-lock.yaml and b/pnpm-lock.yaml differ
diff --git a/src/app/components/Chat.svelte b/src/app/components/Chat.svelte
index dc62c52f..c00e931d 100644
--- a/src/app/components/Chat.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/Chat.svelte
@@ -89,83 +89,85 @@
   }
 
   const onSubmit = async (params: EventContent) => {
-    try {
-      const ptags = others.map(pk => ["p", pk])
+    const ptags = others.map(pk => ["p", pk])
 
-      // Remove p tags since they result in forking the conversation
-      params.tags = params.tags.filter(nthNe(0, "p"))
+    // Remove p tags since they result in forking the conversation
+    params.tags = params.tags.filter(nthNe(0, "p"))
 
-      // Add our reply quote to content
-      params = await prependParent(parent, params)
+    // Add our reply quote to content
+    params = await prependParent(parent, params)
 
-      if (eventToEdit) {
-        if (eventToEdit.content === params.content) {
-          return
-        }
-
-        const command = await $deletes.deleteEvent(eventToEdit)
-
-        await $wraps.publish({event: command.event, recipients: pubkeys, pow: 16})
+    if (eventToEdit) {
+      // An edit that changes nothing is just a dismissal
+      if (eventToEdit.content === params.content) {
+        return clearEventToEdit()
       }
 
-      const [imetaTags, tags] = partition(nthEq(0, "imeta"), params.tags)
-      const imetas = imetaTags.map(tag => tag.slice(1).map(entry => entry.split(" ")))
-      const templates: EventTemplate[] = []
-      const buffer = []
+      const command = await $deletes.deleteEvent(eventToEdit)
 
-      const addTemplate = (kind: number, content: string, tags: string[][]) => {
-        content = content.trim()
-
-        if (content) {
-          templates.push(
-            makeEvent(kind, {
-              content,
-              tags: [...tags, ...ptags],
-              created_at: eventToEdit?.created_at,
-            }),
-          )
-        }
-      }
-
-      for (const p of parse(params)) {
-        const imeta = isLink(p)
-          ? imetas.find(tags => tags.find(spec(["url", p.value.url.toString()])))
-          : undefined
-
-        if (isLink(p) && imeta) {
-          addTemplate(DIRECT_MESSAGE, buffer.splice(0).join(""), tags)
-          addTemplate(DIRECT_MESSAGE_FILE, p.value.url.toString(), imeta.filter(nthNe(0, "url")))
-        } else {
-          buffer.push(p.raw)
-        }
-      }
-
-      addTemplate(DIRECT_MESSAGE, buffer.splice(0).join(""), tags)
-
-      // Split the message into multiple pieces so that we can use kind 15 to send images per nip 17
-      // Sleep 1 second between each one to make sure timestamps are distinct
-      const thunks = await Promise.all(
-        Array.from(enumerate(templates)).map(([i, event]) =>
-          $wraps.publish({
-            event,
-            recipients: pubkeys,
-            delay: $userSettingsValues.send_delay + ms(i),
-            pow: 16,
-          }),
-        ),
-      )
-
-      pushToast({
-        timeout: 30_000,
-        children: {
-          component: ThunkToast,
-          props: {thunk: $app.use(Thunks).merge(thunks)},
-        },
-      })
-    } finally {
-      clearParent()
-      clearEventToEdit()
+      await $wraps.publish({event: command.event, recipients: pubkeys, pow: 16})
     }
+
+    const [imetaTags, tags] = partition(nthEq(0, "imeta"), params.tags)
+    const imetas = imetaTags.map(tag => tag.slice(1).map(entry => entry.split(" ")))
+    const templates: EventTemplate[] = []
+    const buffer = []
+
+    const addTemplate = (kind: number, content: string, tags: string[][]) => {
+      content = content.trim()
+
+      if (content) {
+        templates.push(
+          makeEvent(kind, {
+            content,
+            tags: [...tags, ...ptags],
+            created_at: eventToEdit?.created_at,
+          }),
+        )
+      }
+    }
+
+    for (const p of parse(params)) {
+      const imeta = isLink(p)
+        ? imetas.find(tags => tags.find(spec(["url", p.value.url.toString()])))
+        : undefined
+
+      if (isLink(p) && imeta) {
+        addTemplate(DIRECT_MESSAGE, buffer.splice(0).join(""), tags)
+        addTemplate(DIRECT_MESSAGE_FILE, p.value.url.toString(), imeta.filter(nthNe(0, "url")))
+      } else {
+        buffer.push(p.raw)
+      }
+    }
+
+    addTemplate(DIRECT_MESSAGE, buffer.splice(0).join(""), tags)
+
+    // Split the message into multiple pieces so that we can use kind 15 to send images per nip 17
+    // Sleep 1 second between each one to make sure timestamps are distinct
+    const thunks = await Promise.all(
+      Array.from(enumerate(templates)).map(([i, event]) =>
+        $wraps.publish({
+          event,
+          recipients: pubkeys,
+          delay: $userSettingsValues.send_delay + ms(i),
+          pow: 16,
+        }),
+      ),
+    )
+
+    // Only once the message exists. Publishing has to read each recipient's messaging relays first,
+    // and a failed read throws before any thunk is made — so the reply or edit this was part of has
+    // to survive that along with the draft the composer is holding on to.
+    clearParent()
+    clearEventToEdit()
+
+    pushToast({
+      timeout: 30_000,
+      children: {
+        component: ThunkToast,
+        props: {thunk: $app.use(Thunks).merge(thunks)},
+      },
+    })
   }
 
   const onEscape = () => {
diff --git a/src/app/components/ChatCompose.svelte b/src/app/components/ChatCompose.svelte
index 8412e31c..be576a28 100644
--- a/src/app/components/ChatCompose.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/ChatCompose.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
   import {onDestroy, onMount} from "svelte"
   import {writable} from "svelte/store"
   import cx from "classnames"
+  import type {MaybeAsync} from "@welshman/lib"
   import type {EventContent} from "@welshman/util"
   import {isMobile, preventDefault} from "@lib/html"
   import GallerySend from "@assets/icons/gallery-send.svg?dataurl"
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@
   import EditorContent from "@app/editor/EditorContent.svelte"
   import {makeEditor} from "@app/editor"
   import {type DraftKey, type Draft} from "@app/drafts"
+  import {pushToast} from "@app/toast"
   import type {Share} from "@app/share"
 
   type Props = {
@@ -19,7 +21,7 @@
     draftKey?: DraftKey<Draft>
     onEscape?: () => void
     onEditPrevious?: () => void
-    onSubmit: (event: EventContent) => void
+    onSubmit: (event: EventContent) => MaybeAsync<void>
     initialValues?: Share
   }
 
@@ -68,7 +70,13 @@
 
     if (!content) return
 
-    onSubmit({content, tags})
+    try {
+      await onSubmit({content, tags})
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error("Failed to send message", error)
+
+      return pushToast({theme: "error", message: "Failed to send your message."})
+    }
 
     draftKey?.clear()
     ed.chain().clearContent().run()
diff --git a/src/app/sync.ts b/src/app/sync.ts
index 72370ea9..76da4133 100644
--- a/src/app/sync.ts
+++ b/src/app/sync.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import {page} from "$app/stores"
 import type {Unsubscriber} from "svelte/store"
-import {ago, assoc, call, MONTH, WEEK} from "@welshman/lib"
+import {ago, assoc, call, noop, MONTH, WEEK} from "@welshman/lib"
 import type {Maybe} from "@welshman/lib"
 import {
   APP_DATA,
@@ -29,12 +29,7 @@ import {
   unionFilters,
 } from "@welshman/util"
 import type {Filter} from "@welshman/util"
-import type {
-  FollowListReader,
-  MessagingRelayListReader,
-  RelayListReader,
-  RoomListReader,
-} from "@welshman/domain"
+import type {FollowListReader, RelayListReader, RoomListReader} from "@welshman/domain"
 import {merged, synced, withGetter} from "@welshman/store"
 import {
   FollowLists,
@@ -375,32 +370,29 @@ const syncDMs = () => {
     }
   }
 
-  const syncPubkey = ($pubkey: Maybe<string>, $shouldUnwrap: boolean) => {
+  const syncPubkey = async ($pubkey: Maybe<string>, $shouldUnwrap: boolean) => {
     if ($pubkey !== currentPubkey) {
       unsubscribeAll()
     }
 
-    if ($pubkey && $shouldUnwrap) {
-      relayLists
-        .get()
-        .load($pubkey)
-        .then(() => messagingRelayLists.get().load($pubkey))
-        .then($list => {
-          if ($list && currentPubkey === $pubkey && currentShouldUnwrap === $shouldUnwrap) {
-            subscribeAll($pubkey, $list.urls())
-          }
-        })
-    }
-
     currentPubkey = $pubkey
     currentShouldUnwrap = $shouldUnwrap
+
+    if ($pubkey && $shouldUnwrap) {
+      await relayLists.get().load($pubkey).catch(noop)
+      await messagingRelayLists.get().load($pubkey).catch(noop)
+
+      if (currentPubkey === $pubkey && currentShouldUnwrap === $shouldUnwrap) {
+        subscribeAll($pubkey, messagingRelayLists.get().urls($pubkey).get())
+      }
+    }
   }
 
-  const syncList = ($list: Maybe<MessagingRelayListReader>) => {
+  const syncList = () => {
     const $pubkey = app.get().user?.pubkey
 
     if ($pubkey && shouldUnwrap.get()) {
-      subscribeAll($pubkey, $list?.urls() ?? [])
+      subscribeAll($pubkey, messagingRelayLists.get().urls($pubkey).get())
     }
   }