diff --git a/utils/phone.go b/utils/phone.go
index 8cb22fe7c..953348701 100644
--- a/utils/phone.go
+++ b/utils/phone.go
@@ -24,7 +24,15 @@ func ParsePhoneNumber(s string, country i18n.Country) string {
 		return ""
 	}
 
-	return formatted
+	// TODO there is a problem in urns package where a number +810000000977123456 is considered valid because it allows
+	// unlimited zeros between the country code and the number... but our validation for phone URNs thinks it's too
+	// long, so we validate explicitly here
+	urn, err := urns.New(urns.Phone, formatted)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	return urn.Path()
 }
 
 // FindPhoneNumbers finds phone numbers anywhere in the given string
diff --git a/utils/phone_test.go b/utils/phone_test.go
index bcf7f8548..95e05cb39 100644
--- a/utils/phone_test.go
+++ b/utils/phone_test.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ func TestParsePhoneNumber(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "", utils.ParsePhoneNumber("tel = +250788383383", "RW"))
 	assert.Equal(t, "", utils.ParsePhoneNumber("Hi my number is +250788383383 thanks", "RW"))
 	assert.Equal(t, "", utils.ParsePhoneNumber("Hi my phone is (202) 456-1111 thanks", "US"))
+	assert.Equal(t, "", utils.ParsePhoneNumber("+810000000977123456", "CD"))
 
 	assert.Equal(t, "+250788383383", utils.ParsePhoneNumber("+250788383383", ""))
 	assert.Equal(t, "+250788383383", utils.ParsePhoneNumber("0788 383 383", "RW"))