diff --git a/src/components/dms/util.ts b/src/components/dms/util.ts
index 89b9c5b01f..7fe5f91dc3 100644
--- a/src/components/dms/util.ts
+++ b/src/components/dms/util.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,22 @@ export function canBeAddedToGroup(profile: bsky.profile.AnyProfileView) {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Resolves the effective `allowGroupInvites` value for a chat declaration.
+ * When unset, group invites follow the general DM preference
+ * (`allowIncoming`), which itself defaults to `following`. This mirrors the
+ * `undefined` fallthrough in canBeAddedToGroup, and is the single source of
+ * truth for both displaying and persisting the setting.
+ */
+export function resolveAllowGroupInvites(
+  chat: {allowIncoming?: string; allowGroupInvites?: string} | undefined,
+): 'all' | 'none' | 'following' {
+  return (chat?.allowGroupInvites ?? chat?.allowIncoming ?? 'following') as
+    | 'all'
+    | 'none'
+    | 'following'
+}
+
 export function localDateString(date: Date) {
   // can't use toISOString because it should be in local time
   const mm = date.getMonth()
diff --git a/src/screens/Messages/Settings.tsx b/src/screens/Messages/Settings.tsx
index f392d1c65c..91d9f879d5 100644
--- a/src/screens/Messages/Settings.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Messages/Settings.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {AgeRestrictedScreen} from '#/components/ageAssurance/AgeRestrictedScreen
 import {useAgeAssuranceCopy} from '#/components/ageAssurance/useAgeAssuranceCopy'
 import * as Dialog from '#/components/Dialog'
 import {Divider} from '#/components/Divider'
+import {resolveAllowGroupInvites} from '#/components/dms/util'
 import * as Toggle from '#/components/forms/Toggle'
 import {Bell_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as BellIcon} from '#/components/icons/Bell'
 import {Car_Stroke2_Corner2_Rounded as CarIcon} from '#/components/icons/Car'
@@ -199,15 +200,7 @@ export function MessagesSettingsScreenInner({}: Props) {
                 <Toggle.Group
                   label={l`Allow group chat invites from`}
                   type="radio"
-                  values={[
-                    (profile?.associated?.chat
-                      ?.allowGroupInvites as AllowIncoming) ??
-                      // when unset, group invites follow the general DM
-                      // preference (see canBeAddedToGroup)
-                      (profile?.associated?.chat
-                        ?.allowIncoming as AllowIncoming) ??
-                      'following',
-                  ]}
+                  values={[resolveAllowGroupInvites(profile?.associated?.chat)]}
                   onChange={onSelectGroupInvitesFrom}>
                   <View>
                     {allowGroupInvitesFromOptions.map(option => (
diff --git a/src/state/queries/messages/actor-declaration.ts b/src/state/queries/messages/actor-declaration.ts
index 7261f96eb7..f6cd2d51d5 100644
--- a/src/state/queries/messages/actor-declaration.ts
+++ b/src/state/queries/messages/actor-declaration.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {useMutation, useQueryClient} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 
 import {logger} from '#/logger'
 import {useAgent, useSession} from '#/state/session'
+import {resolveAllowGroupInvites} from '#/components/dms/util'
 import {RQKEY as PROFILE_RKEY} from '../profile'
 
 export function useUpdateActorDeclaration({
@@ -34,12 +35,12 @@ export function useUpdateActorDeclaration({
         update.allowIncoming ??
         current?.associated?.chat?.allowIncoming ??
         'following'
-      const allowGroupInvites =
-        update.allowGroupInvites ??
-        current?.associated?.chat?.allowGroupInvites ??
-        // when unset, group invites follow the general DM preference
-        // (see canBeAddedToGroup), so mirror that when persisting
-        allowIncoming
+      const allowGroupInvites = resolveAllowGroupInvites({
+        allowIncoming,
+        allowGroupInvites:
+          update.allowGroupInvites ??
+          current?.associated?.chat?.allowGroupInvites,
+      })
       const result = await agent.com.atproto.repo.putRecord({
         repo: currentAccount.did,
         collection: 'chat.bsky.actor.declaration',
@@ -58,14 +59,26 @@ export function useUpdateActorDeclaration({
         PROFILE_RKEY(currentAccount?.did),
         (old?: AppBskyActorDefs.ProfileViewDetailed) => {
           if (!old) return old
+          const allowIncoming =
+            update.allowIncoming ??
+            old.associated?.chat?.allowIncoming ??
+            'following'
+          // resolve the same concrete value the server will receive, so
+          // optimistic cache and persisted record stay aligned
+          const allowGroupInvites = resolveAllowGroupInvites({
+            allowIncoming,
+            allowGroupInvites:
+              update.allowGroupInvites ??
+              old.associated?.chat?.allowGroupInvites,
+          })
           return {
             ...old,
             associated: {
               ...old.associated,
               chat: {
-                allowIncoming: 'following',
                 ...old.associated?.chat,
-                ...update,
+                allowIncoming,
+                allowGroupInvites,
               },
             },
           } satisfies AppBskyActorDefs.ProfileViewDetailed