diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/extensions/Context.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/extensions/Context.kt
index 28e9eb06..7d532fa4 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/extensions/Context.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/extensions/Context.kt
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ fun Context.showReceivedMessageNotification(address: String, body: String, threa
     val summaryText = getString(R.string.new_message)
     val sender = getNameAndPhotoFromPhoneNumber(address)?.name ?: ""
 
-    val largeIcon = bitmap ?: getNotificationLetterIcon(sender.toCharArray().getOrNull(0)?.toString() ?: "S")
+    val largeIcon = bitmap ?: getNotificationLetterIcon(sender.getNameLetter())
     val builder = NotificationCompat.Builder(this, channelId)
         .setContentTitle(sender)
         .setContentText(body)
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/extensions/String.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/extensions/String.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8a19a295
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/extensions/String.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+package com.simplemobiletools.smsmessenger.extensions
+
+import com.simplemobiletools.commons.extensions.normalizeString
+
+// get the contact names first letter at showing the placeholder without image
+fun String.getNameLetter() = normalizeString().toCharArray().getOrNull(0)?.toString() ?: "S"