diff --git a/backend/native/backend-ws/src/db/users.ts b/backend/native/backend-ws/src/db/users.ts
index ca7386ef87..d21c92a5fe 100644
--- a/backend/native/backend-ws/src/db/users.ts
+++ b/backend/native/backend-ws/src/db/users.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ const chain = Chain(AUTH_HASURA_URL, {
 export const getUsers = async (
   userIds: string[]
 ): Promise<{ id: string; username: string }[]> => {
+  // hotfix: empty array returns all records
+  if (userIds.filter(Boolean).length === 0) return [];
+
   const response = await chain("query")(
     {
       auth_users: [
diff --git a/backend/native/backpack-api/src/db/friendships.ts b/backend/native/backpack-api/src/db/friendships.ts
index 4e9a47e52c..e91c9e54e5 100644
--- a/backend/native/backpack-api/src/db/friendships.ts
+++ b/backend/native/backpack-api/src/db/friendships.ts
@@ -456,6 +456,9 @@ export const getFriendshipStatus = async (
     remoteRequested: boolean;
   }[]
 > => {
+  // hotfix: empty array returns all records
+  if (userIds.filter(Boolean).length === 0) return [];
+
   const response = await chain("query")(
     {
       auth_friendships: [
diff --git a/backend/native/backpack-api/src/db/users.ts b/backend/native/backpack-api/src/db/users.ts
index 90332f1dc0..5b85f3e37b 100644
--- a/backend/native/backpack-api/src/db/users.ts
+++ b/backend/native/backpack-api/src/db/users.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ export const getUsersMetadata = async (
     id: unknown;
   }[]
 > => {
+  // hotfix: empty array returns all records
+  if (userIds.filter(Boolean).length === 0) return [];
+
   const response = await chain("query")(
     {
       auth_users: [
@@ -50,6 +53,9 @@ export const getUsers = async (
     publicKeys: unknown[];
   }[]
 > => {
+  // hotfix: empty array returns all records
+  if (userIds.filter(Boolean).length === 0) return [];
+
   const response = await chain("query")(
     {
       auth_users: [