diff --git a/js/ui/messageTray.js b/js/ui/messageTray.js
index a29d93b7f..9e9f7af4c 100644
--- a/js/ui/messageTray.js
+++ b/js/ui/messageTray.js
@@ -1889,7 +1889,11 @@ const MessageTray = new Lang.Class({
             this.idleMonitor.add_user_active_watch(Lang.bind(this, this._onIdleMonitorBecameActive));
         }
 
-        this._banner = this._notification.createBanner();
+        // HACK: didn't manage to get chat into a proper state in time
+        if (this._notification.source.isChat)
+            this._banner = this._notification;
+        else
+            this._banner = this._notification.createBanner();
         this._bannerClickedId = this._banner.connect('done-displaying',
                                                      Lang.bind(this, this._escapeTray));
         this._bannerUnfocusedId = this._banner.connect('unfocused', Lang.bind(this, function() {