diff --git a/src/chat.rs b/src/chat.rs
index 91549e76c..ed2c610df 100644
--- a/src/chat.rs
+++ b/src/chat.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 //! # Chat module.
 
+use std::cmp;
 use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::convert::{TryFrom, TryInto};
 use std::fmt;
@@ -289,6 +290,7 @@ impl ChatId {
 
     /// Create a group or mailinglist raw database record with the given parameters.
     /// The function does not add SELF nor checks if the record already exists.
+    #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
     pub(crate) async fn create_multiuser_record(
         context: &Context,
         chattype: Chattype,
@@ -297,9 +299,10 @@ impl ChatId {
         create_blocked: Blocked,
         create_protected: ProtectionStatus,
         param: Option<String>,
+        timestamp: i64,
     ) -> Result<Self> {
         let grpname = strip_rtlo_characters(grpname);
-        let smeared_time = create_smeared_timestamp(context);
+        let timestamp = cmp::min(timestamp, smeared_time(context));
         let row_id =
             context.sql.insert(
                 "INSERT INTO chats (type, name, grpid, blocked, created_timestamp, protected, param) VALUES(?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?);",
@@ -308,7 +311,7 @@ impl ChatId {
                     &grpname,
                     grpid,
                     create_blocked,
-                    smeared_time,
+                    timestamp,
                     create_protected,
                     param.unwrap_or_default(),
                 ),
@@ -318,7 +321,7 @@ impl ChatId {
 
         if create_protected == ProtectionStatus::Protected {
             chat_id
-                .add_protection_msg(context, ProtectionStatus::Protected, None, smeared_time)
+                .add_protection_msg(context, ProtectionStatus::Protected, None, timestamp)
                 .await?;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/receive_imf.rs b/src/receive_imf.rs
index a669ec711..af7decca3 100644
--- a/src/receive_imf.rs
+++ b/src/receive_imf.rs
@@ -654,6 +654,7 @@ async fn add_parts(
                 from_id,
                 to_ids,
                 &verified_encryption,
+                sent_timestamp,
             )
             .await?
             {
@@ -717,6 +718,7 @@ async fn add_parts(
                     allow_creation,
                     mailinglist_header,
                     mime_parser,
+                    sent_timestamp,
                 )
                 .await?
                 {
@@ -885,6 +887,7 @@ async fn add_parts(
                     from_id,
                     to_ids,
                     &verified_encryption,
+                    sent_timestamp,
                 )
                 .await?
                 {
@@ -1478,7 +1481,7 @@ async fn calc_sort_timestamp(
     always_sort_to_bottom: bool,
     incoming: bool,
 ) -> Result<i64> {
-    let mut sort_timestamp = message_timestamp;
+    let mut sort_timestamp = min(message_timestamp, smeared_time(context));
 
     let last_msg_time: Option<i64> = if always_sort_to_bottom {
         // get newest message for this chat
@@ -1515,7 +1518,7 @@ async fn calc_sort_timestamp(
         }
     }
 
-    Ok(min(sort_timestamp, smeared_time(context)))
+    Ok(sort_timestamp)
 }
 
 async fn lookup_chat_by_reply(
@@ -1623,6 +1626,7 @@ async fn create_or_lookup_group(
     from_id: ContactId,
     to_ids: &[ContactId],
     verified_encryption: &VerifiedEncryption,
+    timestamp: i64,
 ) -> Result<Option<(ChatId, Blocked)>> {
     let grpid = if let Some(grpid) = try_getting_grpid(mime_parser) {
         grpid
@@ -1635,7 +1639,7 @@ async fn create_or_lookup_group(
             member_ids.push(ContactId::SELF);
         }
 
-        let res = create_adhoc_group(context, mime_parser, create_blocked, &member_ids)
+        let res = create_adhoc_group(context, mime_parser, create_blocked, &member_ids, timestamp)
             .await
             .context("could not create ad hoc group")?
             .map(|chat_id| (chat_id, create_blocked));
@@ -1717,6 +1721,7 @@ async fn create_or_lookup_group(
             create_blocked,
             create_protected,
             None,
+            timestamp,
         )
         .await
         .with_context(|| format!("Failed to create group '{grpname}' for grpid={grpid}"))?;
@@ -2050,6 +2055,7 @@ async fn create_or_lookup_mailinglist(
     allow_creation: bool,
     list_id_header: &str,
     mime_parser: &MimeMessage,
+    timestamp: i64,
 ) -> Result<Option<(ChatId, Blocked)>> {
     let listid = mailinglist_header_listid(list_id_header)?;
 
@@ -2081,6 +2087,7 @@ async fn create_or_lookup_mailinglist(
             blocked,
             ProtectionStatus::Unprotected,
             param,
+            timestamp,
         )
         .await
         .with_context(|| {
@@ -2265,6 +2272,7 @@ async fn create_adhoc_group(
     mime_parser: &MimeMessage,
     create_blocked: Blocked,
     member_ids: &[ContactId],
+    timestamp: i64,
 ) -> Result<Option<ChatId>> {
     if mime_parser.is_mailinglist_message() {
         info!(
@@ -2309,6 +2317,7 @@ async fn create_adhoc_group(
         create_blocked,
         ProtectionStatus::Unprotected,
         None,
+        timestamp,
     )
     .await?;
     chat::add_to_chat_contacts_table(context, new_chat_id, member_ids).await?;
diff --git a/src/securejoin/bob.rs b/src/securejoin/bob.rs
index 9f9e25036..49dcee27a 100644
--- a/src/securejoin/bob.rs
+++ b/src/securejoin/bob.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use crate::context::Context;
 use crate::events::EventType;
 use crate::mimeparser::MimeMessage;
 use crate::sync::Sync::*;
-use crate::tools::time;
+use crate::tools::{create_smeared_timestamp, time};
 use crate::{chat, stock_str};
 
 /// Starts the securejoin protocol with the QR `invite`.
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ impl BobState {
                             Blocked::Not,
                             ProtectionStatus::Unprotected, // protection is added later as needed
                             None,
+                            create_smeared_timestamp(context),
                         )
                         .await?
                     }