diff --git a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/ContactItem.java b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/ContactItem.java
index 703835a3b..e2e5f0351 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/ContactItem.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/ContactItem.java
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ public class ContactItem {
 	private boolean connected;
 
 	public ContactItem(Contact contact) {
-		this.contact = contact;
+		this(contact, false);
 	}
 
 	public ContactItem(Contact contact, boolean connected) {
diff --git a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/ContactItemViewHolder.java b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/ContactItemViewHolder.java
index 3b543a19e..33cf42232 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/ContactItemViewHolder.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/ContactItemViewHolder.java
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ public class ContactItemViewHolder<I extends ContactItem>
 		layout = (ViewGroup) v;
 		avatar = (ImageView) v.findViewById(R.id.avatarView);
 		name = (TextView) v.findViewById(R.id.nameView);
+		// this can be null as not all layouts that use this ViewHolder have it
 		bulb = (ImageView) v.findViewById(R.id.bulbView);
 	}