diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/matrix.py b/mautrix_telegram/matrix.py
index 062cbe00..b9916536 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/matrix.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/matrix.py
@@ -94,9 +94,7 @@ class MatrixHandler(BaseMatrixHandler):
                 except MatrixError:
                     pass
             portal.mxid = room_id
-            e2be_ok = None
-            if self.config["bridge.encryption.default"] and self.e2ee:
-                e2be_ok = await portal.enable_dm_encryption()
+            e2be_ok = await portal.check_dm_encryption()
             await portal.save()
             await inviter.register_portal(portal)
             if e2be_ok is True:
diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/portal/base.py b/mautrix_telegram/portal/base.py
index d8233e4a..223317ee 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/portal/base.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/portal/base.py
@@ -181,6 +181,10 @@ class BasePortal(MautrixBasePortal, ABC):
         elif self.peer_type == "channel":
             return PeerChannel(channel_id=self.tgid)
 
+    @property
+    def is_direct(self) -> bool:
+        return self.peer_type == "user"
+
     @property
     def has_bot(self) -> bool:
         return (bool(self.bot)
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index adea298c..cf063cda 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -5,6 +5,6 @@ python-magic>=0.4,<0.5
 commonmark>=0.8,<0.10
 aiohttp>=3,<4
 yarl>=1,<2
-mautrix>=0.8.3,<0.9
+mautrix>=0.8.4,<0.9
 telethon>=1.17,<1.18
 telethon-session-sqlalchemy>=0.2.14,<0.3