diff --git a/apps/android/app/src/main/java/chat/simplex/app/views/newchat/NewChatSheet.kt b/apps/android/app/src/main/java/chat/simplex/app/views/newchat/NewChatSheet.kt
index db23d0d1bc..62cec2073c 100644
--- a/apps/android/app/src/main/java/chat/simplex/app/views/newchat/NewChatSheet.kt
+++ b/apps/android/app/src/main/java/chat/simplex/app/views/newchat/NewChatSheet.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package chat.simplex.app.views.newchat
 
+import androidx.activity.compose.BackHandler
 import androidx.compose.foundation.*
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.*
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.RoundedCornerShape
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ import chat.simplex.app.views.helpers.ModalManager
 
 @Composable
 fun NewChatSheet(chatModel: ChatModel, newChatCtrl: ScaffoldController) {
+  if (newChatCtrl.expanded.value) BackHandler { newChatCtrl.collapse() }
   NewChatSheetLayout(
     addContact = {
       newChatCtrl.collapse()
diff --git a/apps/android/app/src/main/java/chat/simplex/app/views/newchat/PasteToConnect.kt b/apps/android/app/src/main/java/chat/simplex/app/views/newchat/PasteToConnect.kt
index ccf32033c6..2b0f8bd0b7 100644
--- a/apps/android/app/src/main/java/chat/simplex/app/views/newchat/PasteToConnect.kt
+++ b/apps/android/app/src/main/java/chat/simplex/app/views/newchat/PasteToConnect.kt
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ fun PasteToConnectView(chatModel: ChatModel) {
     chatModel.incognito.value,
     connectionLink = connectionLink,
     pasteFromClipboard = {
-      connectionLink.value = clipboard?.primaryClip?.getItemAt(0)?.coerceToText(context) as String
+      connectionLink.value = clipboard?.primaryClip?.getItemAt(0)?.coerceToText(context) as? String ?: return@PasteToConnectLayout
     },
     connectViaLink = { connReqUri ->
       try {