diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js
index 568689f56f9..e5e6136568b 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js
@@ -330,6 +330,7 @@ var ChatAction = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
             focus: function(event) {
                 event.preventDefault();
             },
+            html: true,
         });
 
         this.$('.o_mail_add_channel[data-type=dm]').find("input").autocomplete({