diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/thread_widget.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/thread_widget.js
index 10ecb5d2824..aff6b27bfdd 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/thread_widget.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/thread_widget.js
@@ -446,6 +446,9 @@ var ThreadWidget = Widget.extend({
         if (this._messageMailPopover) {
             this._messageMailPopover.popover('hide');
         }
+        if (!this.$('.o_thread_tooltip').length) {
+            return;
+        }
         this._messageMailPopover = this.$('.o_thread_tooltip').popover({
             html: true,
             boundary: 'viewport',