diff --git a/chat-android/src/main/java/com/ably/chat/RoomOptions.kt b/chat-android/src/main/java/com/ably/chat/RoomOptions.kt
index 03f20304..efb65e2b 100644
--- a/chat-android/src/main/java/com/ably/chat/RoomOptions.kt
+++ b/chat-android/src/main/java/com/ably/chat/RoomOptions.kt
@@ -121,14 +121,20 @@ internal fun RoomOptions.validateRoomOptions() {
 internal fun RoomOptions.messagesChannelOptions(): ChannelOptions {
     return ChatChannelOptions {
         presence?.let {
-            val presenceModes = mutableListOf<ChannelMode>()
-            if (presence.enter) {
-                presenceModes.add(ChannelMode.presence)
-            }
-            if (presence.subscribe) {
-                presenceModes.add(ChannelMode.presence_subscribe)
+            val channelModes = buildList {
+                // We should have this modes for regular messages
+                add(ChannelMode.publish)
+                add(ChannelMode.subscribe)
+
+                if (presence.enter) {
+                    add(ChannelMode.presence)
+                }
+                if (presence.subscribe) {
+                    add(ChannelMode.presence_subscribe)
+                }
             }
-            modes = presenceModes.toTypedArray()
+
+            modes = channelModes.toTypedArray()
         }
         occupancy?.let {
             params = mapOf(
diff --git a/chat-android/src/test/java/com/ably/chat/SandboxTest.kt b/chat-android/src/test/java/com/ably/chat/SandboxTest.kt
index 76e96488..8a19df34 100644
--- a/chat-android/src/test/java/com/ably/chat/SandboxTest.kt
+++ b/chat-android/src/test/java/com/ably/chat/SandboxTest.kt
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ class SandboxTest {
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun `should be able to send and retrieve messages`() = runTest {
+    fun `should be able to send and retrieve messages without room features`() = runTest {
         val chatClient = sandbox.createSandboxChatClient()
         val roomId = UUID.randomUUID().toString()
 
@@ -128,6 +128,26 @@ class SandboxTest {
         )
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `should be able to send and retrieve messages with all room features enabled`() = runTest {
+        val chatClient = sandbox.createSandboxChatClient()
+        val roomId = UUID.randomUUID().toString()
+
+        val room = chatClient.rooms.get(roomId, RoomOptions.default)
+
+        room.attach()
+
+        val messageEvent = CompletableDeferred<MessageEvent>()
+
+        room.messages.subscribe { messageEvent.complete(it) }
+        room.messages.send("hello")
+
+        assertEquals(
+            "hello",
+            messageEvent.await().message.text,
+        )
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun `should be able to send and retrieve messages from history`() = runTest {
         val chatClient = sandbox.createSandboxChatClient()