diff --git a/docs/api/pleroma_api.md b/docs/api/pleroma_api.md
index 4323e59f0..590f2a3fb 100644
--- a/docs/api/pleroma_api.md
+++ b/docs/api/pleroma_api.md
@@ -346,5 +346,5 @@ The status posting endpoint takes an additional parameter, `in_reply_to_conversa
 * Method `PATCH`
 * Authentication: required
 * Params:
-    * `recipients`: A list of ids of users that should receive posts to this conversation.
+    * `recipients`: A list of ids of users that should receive posts to this conversation. This will replace the current list of recipients, so submit the full list. The owner of owner of the conversation will always be part of the set of recipients, though.
 * Response: JSON, statuses (200 - healthy, 503 unhealthy)
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/conversation/participation.ex b/lib/pleroma/conversation/participation.ex
index acdee5517..d17b6f7c5 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/conversation/participation.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/conversation/participation.ex
@@ -101,6 +101,10 @@ def get(id) do
   end
 
   def set_recipients(participation, user_ids) do
+    user_ids =
+      [participation.user_id | user_ids]
+      |> Enum.uniq()
+
     Repo.transaction(fn ->
       query =
         from(r in RecipientShip,
@@ -118,5 +122,7 @@ def set_recipients(participation, user_ids) do
       RecipientShip.create(users, participation)
       :ok
     end)
+
+    {:ok, Repo.preload(participation, :recipients, force: true)}
   end
 end
diff --git a/test/conversation/participation_test.exs b/test/conversation/participation_test.exs
index 4a3c397bd..7958e8e89 100644
--- a/test/conversation/participation_test.exs
+++ b/test/conversation/participation_test.exs
@@ -132,4 +132,23 @@ test "Doesn't die when the conversation gets empty" do
 
     [] = Participation.for_user_with_last_activity_id(user)
   end
+
+  test "it sets recipients, always keeping the owner of the participation even when not explicitly set" do
+    user = insert(:user)
+    other_user = insert(:user)
+
+    {:ok, _activity} = CommonAPI.post(user, %{"status" => ".", "visibility" => "direct"})
+    [participation] = Participation.for_user_with_last_activity_id(user)
+
+    participation = Repo.preload(participation, :recipients)
+
+    assert participation.recipients |> length() == 1
+    assert user in participation.recipients
+
+    {:ok, participation} = Participation.set_recipients(participation, [other_user.id])
+
+    assert participation.recipients |> length() == 2
+    assert user in participation.recipients
+    assert other_user in participation.recipients
+  end
 end