diff --git a/src/components/structures/RoomDirectory.js b/src/components/structures/RoomDirectory.js
index 5342276e63..a98afdce2a 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/RoomDirectory.js
+++ b/src/components/structures/RoomDirectory.js
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
             if (alias.indexOf(':') == -1) {
                 alias = alias + ':' + this.state.roomServer;
             }
-            this.showRoomAlias(alias);
+            this.showRoomAlias(alias, true);
         } else {
             // This is a 3rd party protocol. Let's see if we can join it
             const protocolName = protocolNameForInstanceId(this.protocols, this.state.instanceId);
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
             }
             MatrixClientPeg.get().getThirdpartyLocation(protocolName, fields).done((resp) => {
                 if (resp.length > 0 && resp[0].alias) {
-                    this.showRoomAlias(resp[0].alias);
+                    this.showRoomAlias(resp[0].alias, true);
                 } else {
                     const ErrorDialog = sdk.getComponent("dialogs.ErrorDialog");
                     Modal.createTrackedDialog('Room not found', '', ErrorDialog, {
@@ -367,13 +367,16 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         }
     },
 
-    showRoomAlias: function(alias) {
-        this.showRoom(null, alias);
+    showRoomAlias: function(alias, autoJoin=false) {
+        this.showRoom(null, alias, autoJoin);
     },
 
-    showRoom: function(room, room_alias) {
+    showRoom: function(room, room_alias, autoJoin=false) {
         this.props.onFinished();
-        const payload = {action: 'view_room'};
+        const payload = {
+            action: 'view_room',
+            auto_join: autoJoin,
+        };
         if (room) {
             // Don't let the user view a room they won't be able to either
             // peek or join: fail earlier so they don't have to click back