diff --git a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/socialbackup/DistributedBackupActivity.java b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/socialbackup/DistributedBackupActivity.java
index 593670034..aa9f48275 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/socialbackup/DistributedBackupActivity.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/socialbackup/DistributedBackupActivity.java
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.widget.Toast;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactId;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DatabaseComponent;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.briar.R;
@@ -29,6 +30,9 @@ public class DistributedBackupActivity extends BriarActivity implements
 	@Inject
 	public SocialBackupManager socialBackupManager;
 
+	@Inject
+	public ContactManager contactManager;
+
 	@Inject
 	public DatabaseComponent db;
 
@@ -52,6 +56,20 @@ public class DistributedBackupActivity extends BriarActivity implements
 				showInitialFragment(fragment);
 			});
 		} catch (DbException e) {
+			// Check the number of contacts in the contacts list > 1
+			try {
+				if (contactManager.getContacts().size() < 2) {
+					Toast.makeText(this,
+							R.string.social_backup_not_enough_contacts,
+							Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
+					finish();
+				}
+			} catch (DbException dbException) {
+				Toast.makeText(this,
+						R.string.reading_contacts_error,
+						Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
+				finish();
+			}
 			CustodianSelectorFragment fragment =
 					CustodianSelectorFragment.newInstance();
 			showInitialFragment(fragment);
diff --git a/briar-android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/briar-android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 0d6560783..3d4390b41 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/briar-android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -729,4 +729,7 @@
 	<string name="activity_name_recovery">Recover Account</string>
 	<string name="activity_name_custodian_help_recovery">Help recover account</string>
 	<string name="existing_backup_explain">%d of the following contacts are needed to restore your account:</string>
+
+	<string name="social_backup_not_enough_contacts">To make a social backup, you need at least 2 contacts in your contacts list</string>
+	<string name="reading_contacts_error">There was an error reading your contacts list</string>
 </resources>