diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js
index ca34192488f..5ef150e6d1d 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js
@@ -231,6 +231,9 @@ var ChatAction = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
         var def3 = this.extended_composer.appendTo(this.$('.o_mail_chat_content'));
         var def4 = this.searchview.appendTo($("<div>")).then(function () {
             self.$searchview_buttons = self.searchview.$buttons.contents();
+            // manually call do_search to generate the initial domain and filter
+            // the messages in the default channel
+            self.searchview.do_search();
         });
 
         this.render_sidebar();
@@ -547,7 +550,12 @@ var ChatAction = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
         });
 
         this.domain = result.domain;
-        this.fetch_and_render_thread();
+        if (this.channel) {
+            // initially (when do_search is called manually), there is no
+            // channel set yet, so don't try to fetch and render the thread as
+            // this will be done as soon as the default channel is set
+            this.fetch_and_render_thread();
+        }
     },
 
     on_post_message: function (message) {