diff --git a/lib/shared/thread-actions-utils.js b/lib/shared/thread-actions-utils.js
--- a/lib/shared/thread-actions-utils.js
+++ b/lib/shared/thread-actions-utils.js
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@
     );
     if (threadTypeIsThick(threadInfo.type)) {
       const type = assertThickThreadType(
-        pendingThreadType(otherMemberIDs.length),
+        pendingThreadType(otherMemberIDs.length, true),
       );
 
       invariant(
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@
       });
     } else {
       const type = assertThinThreadType(
-        pendingThreadType(otherMemberIDs.length),
+        pendingThreadType(otherMemberIDs.length, false),
       );
 
       invariant(
diff --git a/lib/shared/thread-utils.js b/lib/shared/thread-utils.js
--- a/lib/shared/thread-utils.js
+++ b/lib/shared/thread-utils.js
@@ -665,8 +665,9 @@
 
 function pendingThreadType(
   numberOfOtherMembers: number,
+  thick: boolean,
 ): 4 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 15 {
-  if (usingOlmViaTunnelbrokerForDMs) {
+  if (usingOlmViaTunnelbrokerForDMs && thick) {
     if (numberOfOtherMembers === 0) {
       return threadTypes.PRIVATE;
     } else if (numberOfOtherMembers === 1) {
@@ -1240,7 +1241,7 @@
       const { sourceMessageID } = baseThreadInfo;
       const pendingThreadID = searching
         ? getPendingThreadID(
-            pendingThreadType(userInfoInputArray.length),
+            pendingThreadType(userInfoInputArray.length, false),
             [...userInfoInputArray.map(user => user.id), viewerID],
             sourceMessageID,
           )
@@ -1258,7 +1259,7 @@
       const updatedThread = searching
         ? createPendingThread({
             viewerID,
-            threadType: pendingThreadType(userInfoInputArray.length),
+            threadType: pendingThreadType(userInfoInputArray.length, true),
             members: [loggedInUserInfo, ...userInfoInputArray],
           })
         : baseThreadInfo;
diff --git a/native/chat/message-list-container.react.js b/native/chat/message-list-container.react.js
--- a/native/chat/message-list-container.react.js
+++ b/native/chat/message-list-container.react.js
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@
 
     let searchComponent = null;
     if (searching) {
+      console.log('searching');
       const { userInfoInputArray, genesisThreadInfo } = this.props;
       // It's technically possible for the client to be missing the Genesis
       // ThreadInfo when it first opens up (before the server delivers it)
@@ -167,7 +168,10 @@
         parentThreadHeader = (
           <ParentThreadHeader
             parentThreadInfo={genesisThreadInfo}
-            childThreadType={pendingThreadType(userInfoInputArray.length)}
+            childThreadType={pendingThreadType(
+              userInfoInputArray.length,
+              false,
+            )}
           />
         );
       }