diff --git a/server/im_http.go b/server/im_http.go
index 2bd0314..5fc9afc 100644
--- a/server/im_http.go
+++ b/server/im_http.go
@@ -5456,13 +5456,6 @@ func serveIMGroupInvitations(wrt http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request, topic s
 			results = append(results, item)
 			continue
 		}
-		invitationID := "ginv_" + store.Store.GetUidString()
-		idempotencyKey := strings.TrimSpace(req.Header.Get("Idempotency-Key"))
-		if idempotencyKey != "" {
-			idempotencyKey += ":" + uid.UserId()
-		} else {
-			idempotencyKey = invitationID
-		}
 		targetRequiresApproval := settings != nil && settings.JoinApproval
 		if !targetRequiresApproval && store.Profiles != nil {
 			privacy, privacyErr := store.Profiles.GetPrivacy(principal.TenantID, uid)
@@ -5480,9 +5473,35 @@ func serveIMGroupInvitations(wrt http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request, topic s
 			targetRequiresApproval = privacy != nil && privacy.GroupInviteVerification
 		}
 		joinRequestID := ""
+		invitationID := ""
 		if targetRequiresApproval {
+			invitationID = "ginv_" + store.Store.GetUidString()
 			joinRequestID = "gjr_" + store.Store.GetUidString()
 		}
+		if !targetRequiresApproval {
+			joined, err := store.GroupBusiness.InviteMember(principal.TenantID, topic, principal.Uid, uid,
+				strings.TrimSpace(body.Message), strings.TrimSpace(req.Header.Get("Idempotency-Key")),
+				groupMemberPrivate("", false, false, 1, now), now)
+			if err != nil {
+				item["status"] = "failed"
+				item["reason"] = relationErrorReason(err)
+				results = append(results, item)
+				continue
+			}
+			if joined {
+				item["status"] = types.GroupInvitationStatusJoined
+			} else {
+				item["status"] = "already_member"
+			}
+			results = append(results, item)
+			continue
+		}
+		idempotencyKey := strings.TrimSpace(req.Header.Get("Idempotency-Key"))
+		if idempotencyKey != "" {
+			idempotencyKey += ":" + uid.UserId()
+		} else {
+			idempotencyKey = invitationID
+		}
 		inv, err := store.GroupBusiness.CreateInvitation(principal.TenantID, &types.GroupInvitation{
 			InvitationID:   invitationID,
 			Topic:          topic,
diff --git a/server/im_http_test.go b/server/im_http_test.go
index 1719290..b91fea5 100644
--- a/server/im_http_test.go
+++ b/server/im_http_test.go
@@ -4900,8 +4900,7 @@ func TestServeIMGroupLeave(t *testing.T) {
 func TestServeIMGroupInvitationAddsNonMember(t *testing.T) {
 	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
 	defer ctrl.Finish()
-	mockStore := expectIMBearer(t, ctrl, "token-1", 7, 42)
-	mockStore.EXPECT().GetUidString().Return("test")
+	expectIMBearer(t, ctrl, "token-1", 7, 42)
 	oldSubs := store.Subs
 	oldGroupBusiness := store.GroupBusiness
 	oldSecurity := store.Security
@@ -4935,21 +4934,15 @@ func TestServeIMGroupInvitationAddsNonMember(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	data := decodeIMHTTPResponse(t, rec).Data.(map[string]any)
 	items := data["items"].([]any)
-	if len(items) != 1 || items[0].(map[string]any)["status"] != types.GroupInvitationStatusPending {
+	if len(items) != 1 || items[0].(map[string]any)["status"] != types.GroupInvitationStatusJoined {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected invitation response: %#v", data)
 	}
-	if len(groupStore.invitations) != 1 || groupStore.invitations[0].TargetUserID != target || groupStore.invitations[0].InvitationID != "ginv_test" {
-		t.Fatalf("invitation was not persisted: %#v", groupStore.invitations)
+	if len(groupStore.invitations) != 1 || groupStore.invitations[0].TargetUserID != target ||
+		groupStore.invitations[0].Status != types.GroupInvitationStatusJoined {
+		t.Fatalf("member was not joined directly: %#v", groupStore.invitations)
 	}
-	if len(securityStore.notifications) != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected one target notification, got %#v", securityStore.notifications)
-	}
-	notification := securityStore.notifications[0]
-	if notification.UserID != target || notification.EventType != "group.invitation.created" {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected notification target/type: %#v", notification)
-	}
-	if notification.Action["type"] != "group_invitation_accept" || notification.Action["invitation_id"] != "ginv_test" || notification.Action["topic"] != "grpAlpha" {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected notification action: %#v", notification.Action)
+	if len(securityStore.notifications) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("direct invite should not create approval notification: %#v", securityStore.notifications)
 	}
 }