diff --git a/ddportfolioservice/model/urlbuilder.py b/ddportfolioservice/model/urlbuilder.py
index a18e3ec..ee3902b 100644
--- a/ddportfolioservice/model/urlbuilder.py
+++ b/ddportfolioservice/model/urlbuilder.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ def build_urls(fields):
         fpr = keyfinder.getFingerprintByEmail(fields['email'].encode('utf8'))
         if fpr:
             qfields['gpgfp'] = fpr[0]
+    qfields['firstchar'] = fields['email'][0].encode('utf8')
     for section in [section.strip() for section in \
                         my_config.get('DEFAULT',
                                       'urlbuilder.sections').split(',')]: