diff --git a/bridgestate.go b/bridgestate.go
index ca1d9af..b4f282d 100644
--- a/bridgestate.go
+++ b/bridgestate.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ const (
 	GMConnecting       status.BridgeStateErrorCode = "gm-connecting"
 	GMConnectionFailed status.BridgeStateErrorCode = "gm-connection-failed"
 	GMPingFailed       status.BridgeStateErrorCode = "gm-ping-failed"
+	GMNotDefaultSMSApp status.BridgeStateErrorCode = "gm-not-default-sms-app"
 
 	GMBrowserInactive           status.BridgeStateErrorCode = "gm-browser-inactive"
 	GMBrowserInactiveTimeout    status.BridgeStateErrorCode = "gm-browser-inactive-timeout"
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ func init() {
 		GMFatalError:                "Fatal error polling messages from Google Messages server, please re-link the bridge",
 		GMUnpaired:                  "Unpaired from Google Messages, please re-link the connection to continue using SMS/RCS",
 		GMUnpaired404:               "Unpaired from Google Messages, please re-link the connection to continue using SMS/RCS",
+		GMNotDefaultSMSApp:          "Google Messages isn't set as the default SMS app. Please set the default SMS app on your Android phone to Google Messages to continue using SMS/RCS.",
 		GMBrowserInactive:           "Google Messages opened in another browser",
 		GMBrowserInactiveTimeout:    "Google Messages disconnected due to timeout",
 		GMBrowserInactiveInactivity: "Google Messages disconnected due to inactivity",
diff --git a/database/user.go b/database/user.go
index 4a27a44..913c095 100644
--- a/database/user.go
+++ b/database/user.go
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ func (uq *UserQuery) GetByMXID(ctx context.Context, userID id.UserID) (*User, er
 }
 
 type Settings struct {
+	SettingsReceived    bool `json:"settings_received"`
 	RCSEnabled          bool `json:"rcs_enabled"`
 	ReadReceipts        bool `json:"read_receipts"`
 	TypingNotifications bool `json:"typing_notifications"`
diff --git a/user.go b/user.go
index d82d5b6..31aaac7 100644
--- a/user.go
+++ b/user.go
@@ -773,8 +773,10 @@ func (user *User) handleSettings(settings *gmproto.Settings) {
 	if user.Settings.RCSEnabled != newRCSSettings.GetIsEnabled() ||
 		user.Settings.ReadReceipts != newRCSSettings.GetSendReadReceipts() ||
 		user.Settings.TypingNotifications != newRCSSettings.GetShowTypingIndicators() ||
-		user.Settings.IsDefaultSMSApp != newRCSSettings.GetIsDefaultSMSApp() {
+		user.Settings.IsDefaultSMSApp != newRCSSettings.GetIsDefaultSMSApp() ||
+		!user.Settings.SettingsReceived {
 		user.Settings = database.Settings{
+			SettingsReceived:    true,
 			RCSEnabled:          newRCSSettings.GetIsEnabled(),
 			ReadReceipts:        newRCSSettings.GetSendReadReceipts(),
 			TypingNotifications: newRCSSettings.GetShowTypingIndicators(),
@@ -801,6 +803,10 @@ func (user *User) FillBridgeState(state status.BridgeState) status.BridgeState {
 		state.Info["battery_low"] = user.batteryLow
 		state.Info["mobile_data"] = user.mobileData
 		state.Info["browser_active"] = user.browserInactiveType == ""
+		if user.Settings.SettingsReceived && !user.Settings.IsDefaultSMSApp {
+			state.StateEvent = status.StateBadCredentials
+			state.Error = GMNotDefaultSMSApp
+		}
 		if !user.ready {
 			state.StateEvent = status.StateConnecting
 			state.Error = GMConnecting