diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
index 9524db792..1991df4df 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -2169,4 +2169,6 @@
     <string name="change_groupf">Move game %s</string>
 
     <string name="show_wordlist_browser">Wordlist browser</string>
+
+    <string name="relay_alert_title">Message from relay</string>
 </resources>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
index a8f4fe089..0fc78f03d 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ public class GamesList extends XWExpandableListActivity
     private static final String ROWID_EXTRA = "rowid";
     private static final String GAMEID_EXTRA = "gameid";
     private static final String REMATCH_ROWID_EXTRA = "rowid_rm";
+    private static final String ALERT_MSG = "alert_msg";
 
     private static final int NEW_NET_GAME_ACTION = 1;
     private static final int RESET_GAME_ACTION = 2;
@@ -1028,6 +1029,14 @@ public class GamesList extends XWExpandableListActivity
         }
     }
 
+    private void tryAlert( Intent intent )
+    {
+        String msg = intent.getStringExtra( ALERT_MSG );
+        if ( null != msg ) {
+            showOKOnlyDialog( msg );
+        }
+    }
+
     private void askDefaultNameIf()
     {
         if ( null == CommonPrefs.getDefaultPlayerName( this, 0, false ) ) {
@@ -1109,6 +1118,7 @@ public class GamesList extends XWExpandableListActivity
         startNewNetGame( intent );
         startHasGameID( intent );
         startHasRowID( intent );
+        tryAlert( intent );
     }
 
     public static void onGameDictDownload( Context context, Intent intent )
@@ -1153,6 +1163,13 @@ public class GamesList extends XWExpandableListActivity
         return intent;
     }
 
+    public static Intent makeAlertIntent( Context context, String msg )
+    {
+        Intent intent = makeSelfIntent( context );
+        intent.putExtra( ALERT_MSG, msg );
+        return intent;
+    }
+
     public static void openGame( Context context, Uri data )
     {
         Intent intent = makeSelfIntent( context );
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/RelayService.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/RelayService.java
index e85ab8aaf..9614ed905 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/RelayService.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/RelayService.java
@@ -494,7 +494,10 @@ public class RelayService extends XWService
                     break;
                 case XWPDEV_ALERT:
                     str = getStringWithLength( dis );
-                    sendResult( MultiEvent.RELAY_ALERT, str );
+                    Intent intent = GamesList.makeAlertIntent( this, str );
+                    Utils.postNotification( this, intent, 
+                                            R.string.relay_alert_title,
+                                            str, str.hashCode() );
                     break;
                 case XWPDEV_BADREG:
                     str = getStringWithLength( dis );
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/XWExpandableListActivity.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/XWExpandableListActivity.java
index aad00b807..26138c66f 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/XWExpandableListActivity.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/XWExpandableListActivity.java
@@ -106,6 +106,11 @@ public class XWExpandableListActivity extends ExpandableListActivity
         m_delegate.showOKOnlyDialog( msgID );
     }
 
+    protected void showOKOnlyDialog( String msg )
+    {
+        m_delegate.showOKOnlyDialog( msg );
+    }
+
     protected void showConfirmThen( String msg, int action )
     {
         m_delegate.showConfirmThen( msg, action );