diff --git a/src/widget/circlewidget.cpp b/src/widget/circlewidget.cpp
index 74090561f..a7108b8f9 100644
--- a/src/widget/circlewidget.cpp
+++ b/src/widget/circlewidget.cpp
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@
 #include "widget.h"
 #include "tool/croppinglabel.h"
 
-#include "src/model/friend.h"
 #include "src/friendlist.h"
+#include "src/model/friend.h"
 #include "src/persistence/settings.h"
 #include "src/widget/form/chatform.h"
 
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ void CircleWidget::contextMenuEvent(QContextMenuEvent* event)
 
 void CircleWidget::dragEnterEvent(QDragEnterEvent* event)
 {
-    if(!event->mimeData()->hasFormat("toxPk")) {
+    if (!event->mimeData()->hasFormat("toxPk")) {
         return;
     }
     ToxPk toxPk(event->mimeData()->data("toxPk"));
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ void CircleWidget::dropEvent(QDropEvent* event)
 
     if (circleWidget != nullptr) {
         circleWidget->updateStatus();
-        Widget::getInstance()->searchCircle(circleWidget);
+        emit searchCircle(*circleWidget);
     }
 
     setContainerAttribute(Qt::WA_UnderMouse, false);
diff --git a/src/widget/circlewidget.h b/src/widget/circlewidget.h
index d9b4b42c4..2d6dd7abf 100644
--- a/src/widget/circlewidget.h
+++ b/src/widget/circlewidget.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ public:
 
 signals:
     void renameRequested(CircleWidget* circleWidget, const QString& newName);
+    void searchCircle(CircleWidget& circletWidget);
 
 protected:
     void contextMenuEvent(QContextMenuEvent* event) final override;
diff --git a/src/widget/contentdialog.cpp b/src/widget/contentdialog.cpp
index e054a7f88..2476390df 100644
--- a/src/widget/contentdialog.cpp
+++ b/src/widget/contentdialog.cpp
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ FriendWidget* ContentDialog::addFriend(std::shared_ptr<FriendChatroom> chatroom,
     auto frnd = chatroom->getFriend();
     auto friendPk = frnd->getPublicKey();
     auto friendWidget = new FriendWidget(chatroom, compact);
+    emit connectFriendWidget(*friendWidget);
     contactWidgets[friendPk] = friendWidget;
     friendLayout->addFriendWidget(friendWidget, frnd->getStatus());
     contactChatForms[friendPk] = form;
diff --git a/src/widget/contentdialog.h b/src/widget/contentdialog.h
index b6604564e..a2aa0a145 100644
--- a/src/widget/contentdialog.h
+++ b/src/widget/contentdialog.h
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ signals:
     void addGroupDialog(Group* group, ContentDialog* contentDialog);
     void activated();
     void willClose();
+    void connectFriendWidget(FriendWidget& friendWidget);
 
 public slots:
     void reorderLayouts(bool newGroupOnTop);
diff --git a/src/widget/friendlistwidget.cpp b/src/widget/friendlistwidget.cpp
index ff1b78099..129678b56 100644
--- a/src/widget/friendlistwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/widget/friendlistwidget.cpp
@@ -294,8 +294,7 @@ void FriendListWidget::addGroupWidget(GroupWidget* widget)
 {
     groupLayout.addSortedWidget(widget);
     Group* g = widget->getGroup();
-    connect(g, &Group::titleChanged,
-            [=](const QString& author, const QString& name) {
+    connect(g, &Group::titleChanged, [=](const QString& author, const QString& name) {
         Q_UNUSED(author);
         renameGroupWidget(widget, name);
     });
@@ -330,7 +329,7 @@ void FriendListWidget::removeFriendWidget(FriendWidget* w)
         CircleWidget* circleWidget = CircleWidget::getFromID(id);
         if (circleWidget != nullptr) {
             circleWidget->removeFriendWidget(w, contact->getStatus());
-            Widget::getInstance()->searchCircle(circleWidget);
+            emit searchCircle(*circleWidget);
         }
     }
 }
@@ -354,10 +353,10 @@ void FriendListWidget::addCircleWidget(FriendWidget* friendWidget)
             circleWidget->setExpanded(true);
 
             if (circleOriginal != nullptr)
-                Widget::getInstance()->searchCircle(circleOriginal);
+                emit searchCircle(*circleOriginal);
         }
 
-        Widget::getInstance()->searchCircle(circleWidget);
+        emit searchCircle(*circleWidget);
 
         if (window()->isActiveWindow())
             circleWidget->editName();
@@ -420,7 +419,7 @@ void FriendListWidget::onFriendWidgetRenamed(FriendWidget* friendWidget)
         if (circleWidget != nullptr) {
             circleWidget->removeFriendWidget(friendWidget, status);
             circleWidget->addFriendWidget(friendWidget, status);
-            Widget::getInstance()->searchCircle(circleWidget);
+            emit searchCircle(*circleWidget);
         } else {
             listLayout->removeFriendWidget(friendWidget, status);
             listLayout->addFriendWidget(friendWidget, status);
@@ -575,7 +574,7 @@ void FriendListWidget::dragEnterEvent(QDragEnterEvent* event)
     if (!event->mimeData()->hasFormat("toxPk")) {
         return;
     }
-    ToxPk toxPk(event->mimeData()->data("toxPk"));;
+    ToxPk toxPk(event->mimeData()->data("toxPk"));
     Friend* frnd = FriendList::findFriend(toxPk);
     if (frnd)
         event->acceptProposedAction();
@@ -673,6 +672,7 @@ CircleWidget* FriendListWidget::createCircleWidget(int id)
     assert(circleLayout != nullptr);
 
     CircleWidget* circleWidget = new CircleWidget(this, id);
+    emit connectCircleWidget(*circleWidget);
     circleLayout->addSortedWidget(circleWidget);
     connect(this, &FriendListWidget::onCompactChanged, circleWidget, &CircleWidget::onCompactChanged);
     connect(circleWidget, &CircleWidget::renameRequested, this, &FriendListWidget::renameCircleWidget);
diff --git a/src/widget/friendlistwidget.h b/src/widget/friendlistwidget.h
index 7bb3158f4..cb6f66777 100644
--- a/src/widget/friendlistwidget.h
+++ b/src/widget/friendlistwidget.h
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ public:
 
 signals:
     void onCompactChanged(bool compact);
+    void connectCircleWidget(CircleWidget& circleWidget);
+    void searchCircle(CircleWidget& circleWidget);
 
 public slots:
     void renameGroupWidget(GroupWidget* groupWidget, const QString& newName);
diff --git a/src/widget/friendwidget.cpp b/src/widget/friendwidget.cpp
index f8cd15706..1f3cd71aa 100644
--- a/src/widget/friendwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/widget/friendwidget.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@ FriendWidget::FriendWidget(std::shared_ptr<FriendChatroom> chatroom, bool compac
     connect(nameLabel, &CroppingLabel::editFinished, frnd, &Friend::setAlias);
     // update on changes of the displayed name
     connect(frnd, &Friend::displayedNameChanged, nameLabel, &CroppingLabel::setText);
-    connect(frnd, &Friend::displayedNameChanged, this, [this](const QString /* &newName */){emit friendWidgetRenamed(this);});
+    connect(frnd, &Friend::displayedNameChanged, this,
+            [this](const QString /* &newName */) { emit friendWidgetRenamed(this); });
     connect(chatroom.get(), &FriendChatroom::activeChanged, this, &FriendWidget::setActive);
     statusMessageLabel->setTextFormat(Qt::PlainText);
 }
@@ -125,9 +126,7 @@ void FriendWidget::onContextMenuCalled(QContextMenuEvent* event)
 
     for (const auto group : chatroom->getGroups()) {
         const auto groupAction = inviteMenu->addAction(tr("Invite to group '%1'").arg(group.name));
-        connect(groupAction, &QAction::triggered, [=]() {
-            chatroom->inviteFriend(group.group);
-        });
+        connect(groupAction, &QAction::triggered, [=]() { chatroom->inviteFriend(group.group); });
     }
 
     const auto circleId = chatroom->getCircleId();
@@ -242,7 +241,7 @@ void FriendWidget::removeFromCircle()
 
     if (circleWidget != nullptr) {
         circleWidget->updateStatus();
-        Widget::getInstance()->searchCircle(circleWidget);
+        emit searchCircle(*circleWidget);
     }
 }
 
@@ -258,7 +257,7 @@ void FriendWidget::moveToCircle(int newCircleId)
     if (newCircleWidget) {
         newCircleWidget->addFriendWidget(this, frnd->getStatus());
         newCircleWidget->setExpanded(true);
-        Widget::getInstance()->searchCircle(newCircleWidget);
+        emit searchCircle(*newCircleWidget);
         s.savePersonal();
     } else {
         s.setFriendCircleID(pk, newCircleId);
@@ -266,7 +265,7 @@ void FriendWidget::moveToCircle(int newCircleId)
 
     if (oldCircleWidget) {
         oldCircleWidget->updateStatus();
-        Widget::getInstance()->searchCircle(oldCircleWidget);
+        emit searchCircle(*oldCircleWidget);
     }
 }
 
@@ -274,8 +273,10 @@ void FriendWidget::changeAutoAccept(bool enable)
 {
     if (enable) {
         const auto oldDir = chatroom->getAutoAcceptDir();
-        const auto newDir = QFileDialog::getExistingDirectory(
-            Q_NULLPTR, tr("Choose an auto accept directory", "popup title"), oldDir);
+        const auto newDir =
+            QFileDialog::getExistingDirectory(Q_NULLPTR,
+                                              tr("Choose an auto accept directory", "popup title"),
+                                              oldDir);
         chatroom->setAutoAcceptDir(newDir);
     } else {
         chatroom->disableAutoAccept();
@@ -305,8 +306,8 @@ void FriendWidget::setActive(bool active)
 {
     GenericChatroomWidget::setActive(active);
     if (isDefaultAvatar) {
-        const auto uri = active ? QStringLiteral(":img/contact_dark.svg")
-                                : QStringLiteral(":img/contact.svg");
+        const auto uri =
+            active ? QStringLiteral(":img/contact_dark.svg") : QStringLiteral(":img/contact.svg");
         avatar->setPixmap(QPixmap{uri});
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/widget/friendwidget.h b/src/widget/friendwidget.h
index 779f8df7f..d637fdbcd 100644
--- a/src/widget/friendwidget.h
+++ b/src/widget/friendwidget.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 class FriendChatroom;
 class QPixmap;
 class MaskablePixmapWidget;
+class CircleWidget;
 
 class FriendWidget : public GenericChatroomWidget
 {
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ signals:
     void contextMenuCalled(QContextMenuEvent* event);
     void friendHistoryRemoved();
     void friendWidgetRenamed(FriendWidget* friendWidget);
+    void searchCircle(CircleWidget& circleWidget);
 
 public slots:
     void onAvatarSet(const ToxPk& friendPk, const QPixmap& pic);
diff --git a/src/widget/widget.cpp b/src/widget/widget.cpp
index a5a095be9..0e64e04c7 100644
--- a/src/widget/widget.cpp
+++ b/src/widget/widget.cpp
@@ -249,6 +249,9 @@ void Widget::init()
     ui->searchContactFilterBox->setMenu(filterMenu);
 
     contactListWidget = new FriendListWidget(this, settings.getGroupchatPosition());
+    connect(contactListWidget, &FriendListWidget::searchCircle, this, &Widget::searchCircle);
+    connect(contactListWidget, &FriendListWidget::connectCircleWidget, this,
+            &Widget::connectCircleWidget);
     ui->friendList->setWidget(contactListWidget);
     ui->friendList->setLayoutDirection(Qt::RightToLeft);
     ui->friendList->setContextMenuPolicy(Qt::CustomContextMenu);
@@ -1141,6 +1144,7 @@ void Widget::addFriend(uint32_t friendId, const ToxPk& friendPk)
     std::shared_ptr<FriendChatroom> chatroom(rawChatroom);
     const auto compact = settings.getCompactLayout();
     auto widget = new FriendWidget(chatroom, compact);
+    connectFriendWidget(*widget);
     auto history = Nexus::getProfile()->getHistory();
 
     auto messageProcessor = MessageProcessor(sharedMessageProcessorParams);
@@ -1822,6 +1826,7 @@ ContentDialog* Widget::createContentDialog() const
             &ContentDialog::reorderLayouts);
     connect(contentDialog, &ContentDialog::addFriendDialog, this, &Widget::addFriendDialog);
     connect(contentDialog, &ContentDialog::addGroupDialog, this, &Widget::addGroupDialog);
+    connect(contentDialog, &ContentDialog::connectFriendWidget, this, &Widget::connectFriendWidget);
 
 #ifdef Q_OS_MAC
     Nexus& n = Nexus::getInstance();
@@ -2540,11 +2545,11 @@ Widget::FilterCriteria Widget::getFilterCriteria() const
     return FilterCriteria::All;
 }
 
-void Widget::searchCircle(CircleWidget* circleWidget)
+void Widget::searchCircle(CircleWidget& circleWidget)
 {
     FilterCriteria filter = getFilterCriteria();
     QString text = ui->searchContactText->text();
-    circleWidget->search(text, true, filterOnline(filter), filterOffline(filter));
+    circleWidget.search(text, true, filterOnline(filter), filterOffline(filter));
 }
 
 bool Widget::groupsVisible() const
@@ -2692,3 +2697,13 @@ void Widget::refreshPeerListsLocal(const QString& username)
         g->updateUsername(core->getSelfPublicKey(), username);
     }
 }
+
+void Widget::connectCircleWidget(CircleWidget& circleWidget)
+{
+    connect(&circleWidget, &CircleWidget::searchCircle, this, &Widget::searchCircle);
+}
+
+void Widget::connectFriendWidget(FriendWidget& friendWidget)
+{
+    connect(&friendWidget, &FriendWidget::searchCircle, this, &Widget::searchCircle);
+}
diff --git a/src/widget/widget.h b/src/widget/widget.h
index 7b3b41a45..7da4cdb1a 100644
--- a/src/widget/widget.h
+++ b/src/widget/widget.h
@@ -145,7 +145,6 @@ public:
     void reloadTheme();
     static inline QIcon prepareIcon(QString path, int w = 0, int h = 0);
 
-    void searchCircle(CircleWidget* circleWidget);
     bool groupsVisible() const;
 
     void resetIcon();
@@ -241,6 +240,9 @@ private slots:
     void dispatchFile(ToxFile file);
     void dispatchFileWithBool(ToxFile file, bool);
     void dispatchFileSendFailed(uint32_t friendId, const QString& fileName);
+    void connectCircleWidget(CircleWidget& circleWidget);
+    void connectFriendWidget(FriendWidget& friendWidget);
+    void searchCircle(CircleWidget& circleWidget);
 
 private:
     // QMainWindow overrides