diff --git a/res/values/strings.xml b/res/values/strings.xml
index 20f916e495..5f40643435 100644
--- a/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -493,6 +493,8 @@
     <string name="MediaSendActivity_message_to_s">Message to %s</string>
     <string name="MediaSendActivity_message">Message</string>
     <string name="MediaSendActivity_select_recipients">Select recipients</string>
+    <string name="MediaSendActivity_signal_needs_access_to_your_contacts">Signal needs access to your contacts in order to display them.</string>
+    <string name="MediaSendActivity_signal_needs_contacts_permission_in_order_to_show_your_contacts_but_it_has_been_permanently_denied">Signal needs Contacts permission in order to show your contacts, but it has been permanently denied. Please continue to app settings, select \"Permissions\", and enable \"Contacts\".</string>
     <plurals name="MediaSendActivity_cant_share_more_than_n_items">
         <item quantity="one">You can\'t share more than %d item.</item>
         <item quantity="other">You can\'t share more than %d items.</item>
diff --git a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mediasend/MediaSendActivity.java b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mediasend/MediaSendActivity.java
index 1afc6f196c..a95f7b5225 100644
--- a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mediasend/MediaSendActivity.java
+++ b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mediasend/MediaSendActivity.java
@@ -687,20 +687,27 @@ public class MediaSendActivity extends PassphraseRequiredActionBarActivity imple
       hud.hideCurrentInput(composeText);
     }
 
-    Fragment contactFragment = CameraContactSelectionFragment.newInstance();
-    Fragment editorFragment  = getSupportFragmentManager().findFragmentByTag(TAG_SEND);
+    Permissions.with(this)
+               .request(Manifest.permission.READ_CONTACTS)
+               .ifNecessary()
+               .withPermanentDenialDialog(getString(R.string.MediaSendActivity_signal_needs_contacts_permission_in_order_to_show_your_contacts_but_it_has_been_permanently_denied))
+               .onAllGranted(() -> {
+                 Fragment contactFragment = CameraContactSelectionFragment.newInstance();
+                 Fragment editorFragment  = getSupportFragmentManager().findFragmentByTag(TAG_SEND);
 
-    if (editorFragment == null) {
-      throw new AssertionError("No editor fragment available!");
-    }
+                 if (editorFragment == null) {
+                   throw new AssertionError("No editor fragment available!");
+                 }
 
-
-    getSupportFragmentManager().beginTransaction()
-                               .setCustomAnimations(R.anim.fade_in, R.anim.fade_out, R.anim.fade_in, R.anim.fade_out)
-                               .add(R.id.mediasend_fragment_container, contactFragment, TAG_CONTACTS)
-                               .hide(editorFragment)
-                               .addToBackStack(null)
-                               .commit();
+                 getSupportFragmentManager().beginTransaction()
+                                            .setCustomAnimations(R.anim.fade_in, R.anim.fade_out, R.anim.fade_in, R.anim.fade_out)
+                                            .add(R.id.mediasend_fragment_container, contactFragment, TAG_CONTACTS)
+                                            .hide(editorFragment)
+                                            .addToBackStack(null)
+                                            .commit();
+               })
+               .onAnyDenied(() -> Toast.makeText(MediaSendActivity.this, R.string.MediaSendActivity_signal_needs_access_to_your_contacts, Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show())
+               .execute();
   }
 
   private Fragment getOrCreateCameraFragment() {