diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/app/pages/contacts.js b/app/assets/javascripts/app/pages/contacts.js
index a213a0d1c..b3675af6a 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/app/pages/contacts.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/app/pages/contacts.js
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ app.pages.Contacts = Backbone.View.extend({
     "click #contacts_visibility_toggle" : "toggleContactVisibility",
     "click #chat_privilege_toggle" : "toggleChatPrivilege",
     "click #change_aspect_name" : "showAspectNameForm",
-    "keyup #contact_list_search" : "searchContactList"
+    "keyup #contact_list_search" : "searchContactList",
+    "click .conversation_button": "showMessageModal"
   },
 
   initialize: function(opts) {
@@ -77,6 +78,10 @@ app.pages.Contacts = Backbone.View.extend({
     this.stream.search($(e.target).val());
   },
 
+  showMessageModal: function(){
+    app.helpers.showModal("#conversationModal");
+  },
+
   setupAspectSorting: function() {
     $("#aspect_nav .list-group").sortable({
       items: "a.aspect[data-aspect-id]",
diff --git a/app/helpers/contacts_helper.rb b/app/helpers/contacts_helper.rb
index a9ff48b92..7d3154bcb 100644
--- a/app/helpers/contacts_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/contacts_helper.rb
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@ module ContactsHelper
       content_tag :i,
                   nil,
                   class: "entypo-mail contacts-header-icon",
-                  title: t("contacts.index.start_a_conversation"),
-                  data:  {toggle: "modal", target: "#conversationModal"}
+                  title: t("contacts.index.start_a_conversation")
     end
   end
 end