diff --git a/webclient/components/matrix/matrix-service.js b/webclient/components/matrix/matrix-service.js
index bbfffe75e7..f98874dc74 100644
--- a/webclient/components/matrix/matrix-service.js
+++ b/webclient/components/matrix/matrix-service.js
@@ -111,6 +111,15 @@ angular.module('matrixService', [])
             });
         },
 
+        joinAlias: function(room_alias) {
+            var path = "/join/$room_alias";
+            room_alias = encodeURIComponent(room_alias);
+
+            path = path.replace("$room_alias", room_alias);
+
+            return doRequest("PUT", path, undefined, {});
+        },
+
         // Invite a user to a room
         invite: function(room_id, user_id) {
             // The REST path spec
diff --git a/webclient/rooms/rooms-controller.js b/webclient/rooms/rooms-controller.js
index 58420e0eb2..33912d63f9 100644
--- a/webclient/rooms/rooms-controller.js
+++ b/webclient/rooms/rooms-controller.js
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ angular.module('RoomsController', ['matrixService'])
         room_id: "",
     };
 
+    $scope.joinAlias = {
+        room_alias: "",
+    };
+
     $scope.newProfileInfo = {
         name: matrixService.config().displayName,
         avatar: matrixService.config().avatarUrl
@@ -106,6 +110,22 @@ angular.module('RoomsController', ['matrixService'])
         );
     };
 
+    $scope.joinAlias = function(room_alias) {
+        matrixService.joinAlias(room_alias).then(
+            function(response) {
+                if (response.hasOwnProperty("room_id")) {
+                    $location.path("room/" + response.room_id);
+                    return;
+                } else {
+                    // TODO (erikj): Do something here?
+                }
+            },
+            function(reason) {
+                $scope.feedback = "Can't join room: " + reason;
+            }
+        );
+    };
+
     $scope.setDisplayName = function(newName) {
         matrixService.setDisplayName(newName).then(
             function(response) {
diff --git a/webclient/rooms/rooms.html b/webclient/rooms/rooms.html
index 04b153982e..f134e5ee8c 100644
--- a/webclient/rooms/rooms.html
+++ b/webclient/rooms/rooms.html
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@
     </div>
     <div>
         <form>
-            <input size="40" ng-model="goToRoom.room_id" ng-enter="goToRoom(goToRoom.room_id)" placeholder="(e.g. #foo_channe:example.org)"/>
-            <button ng-disabled="!goToRoom.room_id" ng-click="goToRoom(goToRoom.room_id)">Go to room</button>    
+            <input size="40" ng-model="joinAlias.room_alias" ng-enter="joinAlias(joinAlias.room_alias)" placeholder="(e.g. #foo_channe:example.org)"/>
+            <button ng-disabled="!joinAlias.room_alias" ng-click="joinAlias(joinAlias.room_alias)">Join room</button>    
         </form>
     </div>
     <br/>