diff --git a/lib/shared/dm-ops/update-relationship-spec.js b/lib/shared/dm-ops/update-relationship-spec.js
--- a/lib/shared/dm-ops/update-relationship-spec.js
+++ b/lib/shared/dm-ops/update-relationship-spec.js
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@
   dmOperation: DMUpdateRelationshipOperation,
   utilities: ProcessDMOperationUtilities,
 ) {
-  const { threadID, creatorID, time, operation, messageID } = dmOperation;
-  const { viewerID, findUserIdentities } = utilities;
+  const { threadID, creatorID, time, operation, messageID, targetUserID } = dmOperation;
+  const { findUserIdentities } = utilities;
   if (operation !== 'farcaster_mutual') {
     const messageData = {
       type: messageTypes.UPDATE_RELATIONSHIP,
       threadID,
       creatorID,
-      targetID: viewerID,
+      targetID: targetUserID,
       time,
       operation,
     };
@@ -31,12 +31,12 @@
   }
   const { identities: userIdentities } = await findUserIdentities([
     creatorID,
-    viewerID,
+    targetUserID,
   ]);
   const creatorFID = userIdentities[creatorID]?.farcasterID;
-  const targetFID = userIdentities[viewerID]?.farcasterID;
+  const targetFID = userIdentities[targetUserID]?.farcasterID;
   if (!creatorFID || !targetFID) {
-    const errorMap = { creatorID: creatorFID, viewerID: targetFID };
+    const errorMap = { [creatorID]: creatorFID, [targetUserID]: targetFID };
     throw new Error(
       'could not fetch FID for either creator or target: ' +
         JSON.stringify(errorMap),
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
     threadID,
     creatorID,
     creatorFID,
-    targetID: viewerID,
+    targetID: targetUserID,
     targetFID,
     time,
     operation,
diff --git a/lib/types/dm-ops.js b/lib/types/dm-ops.js
--- a/lib/types/dm-ops.js
+++ b/lib/types/dm-ops.js
@@ -454,6 +454,7 @@
   +creatorID: string,
   +time: number,
   +operation: RelationshipOperation,
+  +targetUserID: string,
   +messageID: string,
 };
 export const dmUpdateRelationshipOperationValidator: TInterface<DMUpdateRelationshipOperation> =
@@ -467,6 +468,7 @@
       'request_accepted',
       'farcaster_mutual',
     ]),
+    targetUserID: tUserID,
     messageID: t.String,
   });