diff --git a/src/libneochat/neochatroom.cpp b/src/libneochat/neochatroom.cpp
index 1c83857a4..ee11c78e3 100644
--- a/src/libneochat/neochatroom.cpp
+++ b/src/libneochat/neochatroom.cpp
@@ -346,6 +346,10 @@ void NeoChatRoom::forget()
 
 void NeoChatRoom::sendTypingNotification(bool isTyping)
 {
+    // During the chatbar setup sequence, this may get called while we're still initializing
+    if (localMember().isEmpty()) {
+        return;
+    }
     connection()->callApi<SetTypingJob>(BackgroundRequest, localMember().id(), id(), isTyping, 10000);
 }