diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/FileBackend.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/FileBackend.java
index ce81694e4..74abf31b0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/FileBackend.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/FileBackend.java
@@ -704,8 +704,11 @@ public class FileBackend {
         return pos > 0 ? filename.substring(pos + 1) : null;
     }
 
-    private void copyImageToPrivateStorage(File file, Uri image, int sampleSize) throws FileCopyException, NotAnImageFileException {
-        file.getParentFile().mkdirs();
+    private void copyImageToPrivateStorage(File file, Uri image, int sampleSize) throws FileCopyException, ImageCompressionException {
+        final File parent = file.getParentFile();
+        if (parent.mkdirs()) {
+            Log.d(Config.LOGTAG,"created parent directory");
+        }
         InputStream is = null;
         OutputStream os = null;
         try {
@@ -724,7 +727,11 @@ public class FileBackend {
             originalBitmap = BitmapFactory.decodeStream(is, null, options);
             is.close();
             if (originalBitmap == null) {
-                throw new NotAnImageFileException();
+                throw new ImageCompressionException("Source file was not an image");
+            }
+            if (hasAlpha(originalBitmap)) {
+                originalBitmap.recycle();
+                throw new ImageCompressionException("Source file had alpha channel");
             }
             Bitmap scaledBitmap = resize(originalBitmap, Config.IMAGE_SIZE);
             int rotation = getRotation(image);
@@ -763,12 +770,12 @@ public class FileBackend {
         }
     }
 
-    public void copyImageToPrivateStorage(File file, Uri image) throws FileCopyException, NotAnImageFileException {
+    public void copyImageToPrivateStorage(File file, Uri image) throws FileCopyException, ImageCompressionException {
         Log.d(Config.LOGTAG, "copy image (" + image.toString() + ") to private storage " + file.getAbsolutePath());
         copyImageToPrivateStorage(file, image, 0);
     }
 
-    public void copyImageToPrivateStorage(Message message, Uri image) throws FileCopyException, NotAnImageFileException {
+    public void copyImageToPrivateStorage(Message message, Uri image) throws FileCopyException, ImageCompressionException {
         switch (Config.IMAGE_FORMAT) {
             case JPEG:
                 message.setRelativeFilePath(message.getUuid() + ".jpg");
@@ -829,11 +836,11 @@ public class FileBackend {
                 } else if (mime.startsWith("video/")) {
                     thumbnail = getVideoPreview(file, size);
                 } else {
-                    Bitmap fullsize = getFullSizeImagePreview(file, size);
-                    if (fullsize == null) {
+                    final Bitmap fullSize = getFullSizeImagePreview(file, size);
+                    if (fullSize == null) {
                         throw new FileNotFoundException();
                     }
-                    thumbnail = resize(fullsize, size);
+                    thumbnail = resize(fullSize, size);
                     thumbnail = rotate(thumbnail, getRotation(file));
                     if (mime.equals("image/gif")) {
                         Bitmap withGifOverlay = thumbnail.copy(Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888, true);
@@ -1439,10 +1446,14 @@ public class FileBackend {
         }
     }
 
-    public static class NotAnImageFileException extends Exception {
+    public static class ImageCompressionException extends Exception {
 
+        ImageCompressionException(String message) {
+            super(message);
+        }
     }
 
+
     public static class FileCopyException extends Exception {
         private final int resId;
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/XmppConnectionService.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/XmppConnectionService.java
index de18882d7..05ec26d67 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/XmppConnectionService.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/XmppConnectionService.java
@@ -583,7 +583,8 @@ public class XmppConnectionService extends Service {
         mFileAddingExecutor.execute(() -> {
             try {
                 getFileBackend().copyImageToPrivateStorage(message, uri);
-            } catch (FileBackend.NotAnImageFileException e) {
+            } catch (FileBackend.ImageCompressionException e) {
+                Log.d(Config.LOGTAG, "unable to compress image. fall back to file transfer", e);
                 attachFileToConversation(conversation, uri, mimeType, callback);
                 return;
             } catch (final FileBackend.FileCopyException e) {
@@ -636,7 +637,7 @@ public class XmppConnectionService extends Service {
             switch (action) {
                 case QuickConversationsService.SMS_RETRIEVED_ACTION:
                     mQuickConversationsService.handleSmsReceived(intent);
-                break;
+                    break;
                 case ConnectivityManager.CONNECTIVITY_ACTION:
                     if (hasInternetConnection()) {
                         if (Config.POST_CONNECTIVITY_CHANGE_PING_INTERVAL > 0) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/PublishProfilePictureActivity.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/PublishProfilePictureActivity.java
index f0e715218..cb1d0ad31 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/PublishProfilePictureActivity.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/PublishProfilePictureActivity.java
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ public class PublishProfilePictureActivity extends XmppActivity implements XmppC
 
     @Override
     public void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
+        super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
         if (requestCode == CropImage.CROP_IMAGE_ACTIVITY_REQUEST_CODE) {
             CropImage.ActivityResult result = CropImage.getActivityResult(data);
             if (resultCode == RESULT_OK) {