diff --git a/ROADMAP.md b/ROADMAP.md
index 9eec13b..3331f15 100644
--- a/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/ROADMAP.md
@@ -73,10 +73,7 @@
     * [x] At startup
     * [x] When added to chat
     * [x] When receiving message
-  * [ ] Private chat creation by inviting Matrix puppet of KakaoTalk user to new room
-    * [x] For existing recently-updated KakaoTalk channels
-    * [ ] For existing long-idled KakaoTalk channels
-    * [ ] For new KakaoTalk channels
+  * [x] Direct chat creation by inviting Matrix puppet of KakaoTalk user to new room
   * [x] Option to use own Matrix account for messages sent from other KakaoTalk clients
   * [ ] KakaoTalk friends list management
     * [x] List friends
diff --git a/matrix_appservice_kakaotalk/kt/client/client.py b/matrix_appservice_kakaotalk/kt/client/client.py
index 2a45fbb..b4379da 100644
--- a/matrix_appservice_kakaotalk/kt/client/client.py
+++ b/matrix_appservice_kakaotalk/kt/client/client.py
@@ -505,6 +505,13 @@ class Client:
             photo_url=photo_url,
         )
 
+    def create_direct_chat(self, ktid: Long) -> Awaitable[Long]:
+        return self._api_user_request_result(
+            Long,
+            "create_direct_chat",
+            user_id=ktid.serialize(),
+        )
+
     def leave_channel(
         self,
         channel_props: ChannelProps,
diff --git a/matrix_appservice_kakaotalk/matrix.py b/matrix_appservice_kakaotalk/matrix.py
index 8d6757c..62b4437 100644
--- a/matrix_appservice_kakaotalk/matrix.py
+++ b/matrix_appservice_kakaotalk/matrix.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ from mautrix.types import (
     UserID,
 )
 
-from . import portal as po, user as u
+from . import portal as po, puppet as pu, user as u
 from .db import Message as DBMessage
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -63,6 +63,19 @@ class MatrixHandler(BaseMatrixHandler):
                 room_id, "This room has been marked as your KakaoTalk bridge notice room."
             )
 
+    async def handle_puppet_dm_invite(
+        self, room_id: RoomID, puppet: pu.Puppet, invited_by: u.User, evt: StateEvent
+    ) -> None:
+        # TODO Make upstream request to return custom failure message,
+        #      instead of having to reimplement the entire function
+        portal = await invited_by.get_portal_with(puppet)
+        if portal:
+            await portal.accept_matrix_dm(room_id, invited_by, puppet)
+        else:
+            await puppet.default_mxid_intent.leave_room(
+                room_id, reason="Unable to create a DM for this KakaoTalk user"
+            )
+
     async def handle_invite(
         self, room_id: RoomID, user_id: UserID, invited_by: u.User, event_id: EventID
     ) -> None:
diff --git a/matrix_appservice_kakaotalk/user.py b/matrix_appservice_kakaotalk/user.py
index 77f27cc..c6dd586 100644
--- a/matrix_appservice_kakaotalk/user.py
+++ b/matrix_appservice_kakaotalk/user.py
@@ -685,14 +685,18 @@ class User(DBUser, BaseUser):
             else:
                 ktid = memo_ids[0]
                 if len(memo_ids) > 1:
-                    self.log.info("Found multiple memo chats, so using the first one as a fallback")
+                    self.log.warning("Found multiple memo chats, so using the first one as a fallback")
         if ktid:
-            return await po.Portal.get_by_ktid(
-                ktid, kt_receiver=self.ktid, create=create, kt_type=kt_type
-            )
+            self.log.debug(f"Found existing direct chat with KakaoTalk user {puppet.ktid}")
         else:
-            self.log.warning(f"Didn't find an existing DM channel with KakaoTalk user {puppet.ktid}, so not creating one")
-            return None
+            self.log.debug(f"Didn't find an existing direct chat with KakaoTalk user {puppet.ktid}, so will create one")
+            try:
+                ktid = await self.client.create_direct_chat(puppet.ktid)
+            except:
+                self.log.exception(f"Failed to create direct chat with {puppet.ktid}")
+        return await po.Portal.get_by_ktid(
+            ktid, kt_receiver=self.ktid, create=create, kt_type=kt_type
+        ) if ktid else None
 
     # region KakaoTalk event handling
 
diff --git a/node/src/client.js b/node/src/client.js
index f053b02..defd0ab 100644
--- a/node/src/client.js
+++ b/node/src/client.js
@@ -959,6 +959,7 @@ export default class PeerClient {
 		/** @type Long[] */
 		const channelIds = []
 		const channelList = this.#getUser(req.mxid).talkClient.channelList
+		// TODO channelList.all() doesn't really return *all* channels...
 		for (const channel of channelList.all()) {
 			if (channel.info.type == "MemoChat") {
 				channelIds.push(channel.channelId)
@@ -1128,6 +1129,20 @@ export default class PeerClient {
 		})
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * @param {Object} req
+	 * @param {string} req.mxid
+	 * @param {Long} req.user_id
+	 */
+	createDirectChat = async (req) => {
+		const channelList = this.#getUser(req.mxid).talkClient.channelList.normal
+		const res = await channelList.createChannel({
+			userList: [{ userId: req.user_id }],
+		})
+		if (!res.success) return res
+		return makeCommandResult(res.result.channelId)
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * @param {Object} req
 	 * @param {string} req.mxid
@@ -1236,6 +1251,7 @@ export default class PeerClient {
 				set_channel_name: this.setChannelName,
 				set_channel_description: this.setChannelDescription,
 				set_channel_photo: this.setChannelPhoto,
+				create_direct_chat: this.createDirectChat,
 				leave_channel: this.leaveChannel,
 			}[req.command] || this.handleUnknownCommand
 		}