diff --git a/lib/shared/messages/update-relationship-message-spec.js b/lib/shared/messages/update-relationship-message-spec.js
--- a/lib/shared/messages/update-relationship-message-spec.js
+++ b/lib/shared/messages/update-relationship-message-spec.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 import type { ThreadInfo } from '../../types/thread-types';
 import type { RelativeUserInfo } from '../../types/user-types';
 import { ET, type EntityText } from '../../utils/entity-text';
-import { stringForUser } from '../user-utils';
 import { hasMinCodeVersion } from '../version-utils';
 import {
   pushTypes,
@@ -157,13 +156,14 @@
     threadInfo: ThreadInfo,
   ): Promise<NotifTexts> {
     const messageInfo = assertSingleMessageInfo(messageInfos);
-    const prefix = stringForUser(messageInfo.creator);
+    const creator = ET.user({ userInfo: messageInfo.creator });
+    const prefix = ET`${creator}`;
     const title = threadInfo.uiName;
     const body =
       messageInfo.operation === 'request_sent'
         ? 'sent you a friend request'
         : 'accepted your friend request';
-    const merged = `${prefix} ${body}`;
+    const merged = ET`${prefix} ${body}`;
     return {
       merged,
       body,