diff --git a/res/values/strings.xml b/res/values/strings.xml
index dff577723f..d61f051455 100644
--- a/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -1315,6 +1315,7 @@
     <string name="ConversationActivity_signal_needs_sms_permission_in_order_to_send_an_sms">Signal needs SMS permission in order to send an SMS, but it has been permanently denied. Please continue to app settings, select \"Permissions\" and enable \"SMS\".</string>
     <string name="Permissions_continue">Continue</string>
     <string name="Permissions_not_now">Not now</string>
+    <string name="ConversationListActivity_signal_needs_contacts_permission_in_order_to_search_your_contacts_but_it_has_been_permanently_denied">Signal needs Contacts permission in order to search your contacts, but it has been permanently denied. Please continue to app settings, select \"Permissions\", and enable \"Contacts\".</string>
 
 
     <!-- EOF -->
diff --git a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationListActivity.java b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationListActivity.java
index 4b858d79e8..0c3c568437 100644
--- a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationListActivity.java
+++ b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationListActivity.java
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
  */
 package org.thoughtcrime.securesms;
 
+import android.*;
+import android.Manifest;
 import android.annotation.SuppressLint;
 import android.content.ActivityNotFoundException;
 import android.content.Context;
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.database.DatabaseFactory;
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.database.MessagingDatabase.MarkedMessageInfo;
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.notifications.MarkReadReceiver;
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.notifications.MessageNotifier;
+import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.permissions.Permissions;
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.recipients.Recipient;
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.service.KeyCachingService;
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.util.DynamicLanguage;
@@ -111,8 +114,15 @@ public class ConversationListActivity extends PassphraseRequiredActionBarActivit
   }
 
   private void initializeSearchListener() {
-    searchAction.setOnClickListener(v -> searchToolbar.display(searchAction.getX() + (searchAction.getWidth() / 2),
-                                                               searchAction.getY() + (searchAction.getHeight() / 2)));
+    searchAction.setOnClickListener(v -> {
+      Permissions.with(this)
+                 .request(Manifest.permission.READ_CONTACTS, Manifest.permission.WRITE_CONTACTS)
+                 .ifNecessary()
+                 .onAllGranted(() -> searchToolbar.display(searchAction.getX() + (searchAction.getWidth() / 2),
+                                                           searchAction.getY() + (searchAction.getHeight() / 2)))
+                 .withPermanentDenialDialog(getString(R.string.ConversationListActivity_signal_needs_contacts_permission_in_order_to_search_your_contacts_but_it_has_been_permanently_denied))
+                 .execute();
+    });
 
     searchToolbar.setListener(new SearchToolbar.SearchListener() {
       @Override
diff --git a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationListFragment.java b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationListFragment.java
index c6e79d7ab0..cc3f398bb0 100644
--- a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationListFragment.java
+++ b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationListFragment.java
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import android.graphics.drawable.Drawable;
 import android.os.AsyncTask;
 import android.os.Build;
 import android.os.Bundle;
+import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
 import android.support.annotation.Nullable;
 import android.support.design.widget.Snackbar;
 import android.support.v4.app.Fragment;
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ public class ConversationListFragment extends Fragment
   }
 
   @Override
-  public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container, Bundle bundle) {
+  public View onCreateView(@NonNull LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container, Bundle bundle) {
     final View view = inflater.inflate(R.layout.conversation_list_fragment, container, false);
 
     reminderView = ViewUtil.findById(view, R.id.reminder);