diff --git a/keyserver/src/creators/thread-creator.js b/keyserver/src/creators/thread-creator.js
--- a/keyserver/src/creators/thread-creator.js
+++ b/keyserver/src/creators/thread-creator.js
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
   checkThreadPermission,
   validateCandidateMembers,
 } from '../fetchers/thread-permission-fetchers';
+import { personalThreadQuery } from '../search/threads';
 import type { Viewer } from '../session/viewer';
 import {
   changeRole,
@@ -233,17 +234,7 @@
       otherMemberID,
       'Other member id should be set for a PERSONAL thread',
     );
-    existingThreadQuery = SQL`
-      SELECT t.id 
-      FROM threads t
-      INNER JOIN memberships m1 
-        ON m1.thread = t.id AND m1.user = ${viewer.userID}
-      INNER JOIN memberships m2
-        ON m2.thread = t.id AND m2.user = ${otherMemberID}
-      WHERE t.type = ${threadTypes.PERSONAL}
-        AND m1.role > 0
-        AND m2.role > 0
-    `;
+    existingThreadQuery = personalThreadQuery(viewer.userID, otherMemberID);
   } else if (sourceMessageID) {
     existingThreadQuery = SQL`
       SELECT t.id
diff --git a/keyserver/src/search/threads.js b/keyserver/src/search/threads.js
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/keyserver/src/search/threads.js
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+// @flow
+
+import type { QueryResults } from 'mysql';
+
+import { threadTypes } from 'lib/types/thread-types';
+
+import { dbQuery, SQL } from '../database/database';
+
+function personalThreadQuery(
+  firstMemberID: string,
+  secondMemberID: string,
+): any {
+  return SQL`
+      SELECT t.id 
+      FROM threads t
+      INNER JOIN memberships m1 
+        ON m1.thread = t.id AND m1.user = ${firstMemberID}
+      INNER JOIN memberships m2
+        ON m2.thread = t.id AND m2.user = ${secondMemberID}
+      WHERE t.type = ${threadTypes.PERSONAL}
+        AND m1.role > 0
+        AND m2.role > 0
+    `;
+}
+
+async function searchForPersonalThread(
+  viewerID: string,
+  otherMemberID: string,
+): Promise<QueryResults> {
+  const query = personalThreadQuery(viewerID, otherMemberID);
+  return await dbQuery(query);
+}
+
+export { personalThreadQuery, searchForPersonalThread };