diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/models/message_view.js b/addons/mail/static/src/models/message_view.js
index da41fc1a3dc..d06898ec52b 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/models/message_view.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/models/message_view.js
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ registerModel({
                 this.highlight();
                 this.update({ doHighlight: clear() });
             }
-            if (this.messageListViewItemOwner.threadViewOwnerAsLastMessageListViewItem && this.messageListViewItemOwner.isPartiallyVisible()) {
+            if (this.messageListViewItemOwner && this.messageListViewItemOwner.threadViewOwnerAsLastMessageListViewItem && this.messageListViewItemOwner.isPartiallyVisible()) {
                 this.messageListViewItemOwner.threadViewOwnerAsLastMessageListViewItem.handleVisibleMessage(this.message);
             }
             if (this.prettyBodyRef.el && this.message.prettyBody !== this.lastPrettyBody) {