diff --git a/src/widgets/send-message.jsx b/src/widgets/send-message.jsx
index f5d5b0c2..aac712a6 100644
--- a/src/widgets/send-message.jsx
+++ b/src/widgets/send-message.jsx
@@ -228,9 +228,14 @@ class SendMessage extends React.PureComponent {
     } else if (prevProps.initMessage != this.props.initMessage) {
       const msg = this.props.initMessage || '';
       this.setState({message: msg}, _ => {
-        // If there is text, scroll to bottom and set caret to the end.
-        this.messageEditArea.scrollTop = this.messageEditArea.scrollHeight;
-        this.messageEditArea.setSelectionRange(msg.length, msg.length);
+        // messageEditArea can be null here: initMessage (draft/edit content) can change while the
+        // textarea itself is unmounted, e.g. noInput during an active forward, or disabled while
+        // ACS is still resolving right after a topic switch.
+        if (this.messageEditArea) {
+          // If there is text, scroll to bottom and set caret to the end.
+          this.messageEditArea.scrollTop = this.messageEditArea.scrollHeight;
+          this.messageEditArea.setSelectionRange(msg.length, msg.length);
+        }
       });
     }
     if (prevProps.reply != this.props.reply) {