diff --git a/packages/server/src/routes/dm.ts b/packages/server/src/routes/dm.ts
index 150e6581..8cf3b66b 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/routes/dm.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/routes/dm.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ import {
   isFederationRelayEnabled,
   computeFederatedId,
   sendTypingRelay,
+  normalizeIconForWire,
 } from '../utils/federationOutbox.js';
 import { getOurOrigin } from '../utils/federationAuth.js';
 import type { FederationRelayEvent } from '@backspace/shared';
@@ -1301,11 +1302,7 @@ export async function dmRoutes(app: FastifyInstance): Promise<void> {
       // relay) stay correct without touching this site.
       const channelRow = db.select().from(schema.dmChannels)
         .where(eq(schema.dmChannels.id, dmChannelId)).get();
-      const wireIcon = channelRow?.icon
-        ? (channelRow.icon.startsWith('http://') || channelRow.icon.startsWith('https://')
-            ? channelRow.icon
-            : `${domainOrigin}/api/uploads/${channelRow.icon}`)
-        : null;
+      const wireIcon = normalizeIconForWire(channelRow?.icon ?? null, domainOrigin);
 
       for (const targetUser of targetUsers) {
         if (!targetUser.homeInstance || targetUser.homeInstance === domainOrigin) continue;
@@ -1864,11 +1861,7 @@ export async function dmRoutes(app: FastifyInstance): Promise<void> {
       // patched between the start of this handler and now.
       const channelRow = db.select().from(schema.dmChannels)
         .where(eq(schema.dmChannels.id, id)).get();
-      const wireIcon = channelRow?.icon
-        ? (channelRow.icon.startsWith('http://') || channelRow.icon.startsWith('https://')
-            ? channelRow.icon
-            : `${domainOrigin}/api/uploads/${channelRow.icon}`)
-        : null;
+      const wireIcon = normalizeIconForWire(channelRow?.icon ?? null, domainOrigin);
 
       const memberAddPayload: FederationRelayEvent = {
         eventType: 'member_add',
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utils/federationOutbox.ts b/packages/server/src/utils/federationOutbox.ts
index 07dc56b2..c0f56ba4 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utils/federationOutbox.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/utils/federationOutbox.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,23 @@ function fetchSettings(): CachedSettings {
 
 // ─── Public API ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
+/**
+ * Normalize a stored icon value (bare filename, absolute http(s) URL, or null)
+ * to an absolute URL suitable for federation wire payloads. Bare filenames are
+ * resolved against `ourOrigin`; absolute URLs pass through unchanged; null
+ * short-circuits.
+ *
+ * @param icon Either a bare filename (e.g. "1234567890.png"), an
+ *   already-absolute http(s) URL, or null.
+ * @param ourOrigin Owner-instance origin (e.g. "https://nova.ddns.net").
+ * @returns Absolute URL or null.
+ */
+export function normalizeIconForWire(icon: string | null, ourOrigin: string): string | null {
+  if (!icon) return null;
+  if (icon.startsWith('http://') || icon.startsWith('https://')) return icon;
+  return `${ourOrigin}/api/uploads/${icon}`;
+}
+
 /**
  * Returns true if the federation relay feature is enabled in instance settings.
  * Result is cached for 30 seconds to avoid repeated DB reads.
@@ -884,9 +901,7 @@ export function queueGroupMetadataRelay(
   }
 
   const ourOrigin = getOurOrigin();
-  const wireIcon = payload.icon
-    ? ((payload.icon.startsWith('http://') || payload.icon.startsWith('https://')) ? payload.icon : `${ourOrigin}/api/uploads/${payload.icon}`)
-    : null;
+  const wireIcon = normalizeIconForWire(payload.icon, ourOrigin);
 
   // Resolve actor's full FederationRelayParticipant. Mirrors the participant
   // construction in getDmParticipants() / buildRelayPayload() so receivers