diff --git a/react/features/chat/middleware.js b/react/features/chat/middleware.js
index 97fe9d32c..c17287624 100644
--- a/react/features/chat/middleware.js
+++ b/react/features/chat/middleware.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
     JitsiConferenceErrors,
     JitsiConferenceEvents
 } from '../base/lib-jitsi-meet';
+import { setActiveModalId } from '../base/modal';
 import {
     getLocalParticipant,
     getParticipantById,
@@ -22,7 +23,13 @@ import { isButtonEnabled, showToolbox } from '../toolbox';
 import { SEND_MESSAGE, SET_PRIVATE_MESSAGE_RECIPIENT } from './actionTypes';
 import { addMessage, clearMessages, toggleChat } from './actions';
 import { ChatPrivacyDialog } from './components';
-import { INCOMING_MSG_SOUND_ID, MESSAGE_TYPE_ERROR, MESSAGE_TYPE_LOCAL, MESSAGE_TYPE_REMOTE } from './constants';
+import {
+    CHAT_VIEW_MODAL_ID,
+    INCOMING_MSG_SOUND_ID,
+    MESSAGE_TYPE_ERROR,
+    MESSAGE_TYPE_LOCAL,
+    MESSAGE_TYPE_REMOTE
+} from './constants';
 import { INCOMING_MSG_SOUND_FILE } from './sounds';
 
 declare var APP: Object;
@@ -94,6 +101,7 @@ MiddlewareRegistry.register(store => next => action => {
     }
 
     case SET_PRIVATE_MESSAGE_RECIPIENT: {
+        Boolean(action.participant) && dispatch(setActiveModalId(CHAT_VIEW_MODAL_ID));
         _maybeFocusField();
         break;
     }