diff --git a/telegram-base.c b/telegram-base.c
index de06b49..58026c7 100644
--- a/telegram-base.c
+++ b/telegram-base.c
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ static void code_auth_receive_result (struct tgl_state *TLS, void *extra, int su
   }
 }
 
-static void request_code_entered (gpointer data, const gchar *code) {
+void request_code_entered (gpointer data, const gchar *code) {
   struct tgl_state *TLS = data;
   telegram_conn *conn = TLS->ev_base;
   char const *username = purple_account_get_username(conn->pa);
@@ -299,16 +299,15 @@ static void request_code (struct tgl_state *TLS) {
         "Telegram wants to verify your identity, please enter the code, that you have received via SMS.",
         NULL, 0, 0, "code", "OK", G_CALLBACK(request_code_entered), "Cancel",
         G_CALLBACK(request_code_canceled), conn->pa, NULL, NULL, TLS)) {
-      const char *sms  = purple_account_get_string(tg_get_acc(TLS), "code", "");
-      if (*sms == '\0') {
-        const char *error = "Could not prompt for sms code, please set SMS code in account settings and reconnect.";
-        purple_connection_error_reason(conn->gc, PURPLE_CONNECTION_ERROR_AUTHENTICATION_FAILED, error);
-        purple_notify_error(_telegram_protocol, "Enter SMS code", "Enter SMS code", error);
-        return;
-      }
-      
-      request_code_entered (TLS, sms);
-      purple_account_set_string(tg_get_acc(TLS), "code", "");
+
+    // purple request API is not available, so we create a new conversation (the Telegram system
+    // account "7770000") to prompt the user for the code
+          
+    conn->in_fallback_chat = 1;
+    purple_connection_set_state (conn->gc, PURPLE_CONNECTED);
+    PurpleConversation *conv = purple_conversation_new (PURPLE_CONV_TYPE_IM, conn->pa, "777000");
+    purple_conversation_write (conv, "777000", "What is your SMS verification code?",
+          PURPLE_MESSAGE_RECV | PURPLE_MESSAGE_SYSTEM, 0);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/telegram-base.h b/telegram-base.h
index 76a5b28..5d6a484 100644
--- a/telegram-base.h
+++ b/telegram-base.h
@@ -28,4 +28,5 @@ void telegram_login (struct tgl_state *TLS);
 PurpleConversation *chat_show (PurpleConnection *gc, int id);
 int chat_add_message (struct tgl_state *TLS, struct tgl_message *M, char *text);
 void chat_add_all_users (PurpleConversation *pc, struct tgl_chat *chat);
+void request_code_entered (gpointer data, const gchar *code);
 #endif
diff --git a/telegram-purple.c b/telegram-purple.c
index 1369e9f..6de30a3 100644
--- a/telegram-purple.c
+++ b/telegram-purple.c
@@ -648,6 +648,14 @@ static int tgprpl_send_im (PurpleConnection * gc, const char *who, const char *m
   
   telegram_conn *conn = purple_connection_get_protocol_data(gc);
   PurpleAccount *pa = conn->pa;
+ 
+  // this is part of a workaround to support clients without
+  // the request API (request.h), see telegram-base.c:request_code()
+  if (conn->in_fallback_chat) {
+    request_code_entered (conn->TLS, message);
+    conn->in_fallback_chat = 0;
+    return 1;
+  }
   
   PurpleBuddy *b = purple_find_buddy (pa, who);
   if (!b) {
@@ -914,18 +922,12 @@ static PurplePluginProtocolInfo prpl_info = {
 
 
 static void tgprpl_init (PurplePlugin *plugin) {
-  //PurpleAccountOption *option;
-  //GList *verification_values = NULL;
-  
   PurpleAccountOption *opt;
   
   opt = purple_account_option_bool_new("Compatibility Mode (read SMS code from settings)",
           "compat-verification", 0);
   prpl_info.protocol_options = g_list_append(prpl_info.protocol_options, opt);
   
-  opt = purple_account_option_string_new("SMS Code", "code", "");
-  prpl_info.protocol_options = g_list_append(prpl_info.protocol_options, opt);
-  
   _telegram_protocol = plugin;
 }
 
diff --git a/telegram-purple.h b/telegram-purple.h
index bb02709..3b36565 100644
--- a/telegram-purple.h
+++ b/telegram-purple.h
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ typedef struct {
   GQueue *new_messages;
   GHashTable *joining_chats;
   guint timer;
+  int in_fallback_chat;
 } telegram_conn;
 
 struct download_desc {