diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index 24e05c6..244948d 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -34,12 +34,15 @@ var initialsynccomplete = false;
 
 /**
  * From https://github.com/stevekinney/node-phone-formatter
- * @param {type} phoneNumber
- * @param {type} formatString
- * @param {type} options
- * @returns {unresolved}
+ * @param {string} phoneNumber
+ * @param {string} formatString
+ * @returns {string}
  */
 function formatPhoneNumber(phoneNumber, formatString) {
+    phoneNumber = phoneNumber.replace(
+            /^[\+\d{1,3}\-\s]*\(?([0-9]{3})\)?[-. ]?([0-9]{3})[-. ]?([0-9]{4})$/,
+            "$1$2$3"
+            );
     for (var i = 0, l = phoneNumber.length; i < l; i++) {
         formatString = formatString.replace("N", phoneNumber[i]);
     }
@@ -133,7 +136,7 @@ function createOrJoinSMSRoom(tel, ournumber, callback) {
             room_alias_name: "SMS_" + tel + "_" + ournumber,
             visibility: "private",
             invite: settings.inviteusers,
-            name: formatPhoneNumber(tel, "(NNN) NNN-NNNN"),
+            name: formatPhoneNumber(tel, "1 (NNN) NNN-NNNN"),
             topic: "SMS conversation with " + tel + " (using " + ournumber + ")"
         }).then((room) => {
             logger.debug("Room" + roomName + " created with ID " + room.room_id);