diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/systray/systray_messaging_menu.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/systray/systray_messaging_menu.js
index 5a687131504..a6c425232b6 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/systray/systray_messaging_menu.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/systray/systray_messaging_menu.js
@@ -282,7 +282,11 @@ var MessagingMenu = Widget.extend({
             // e.g. needaction message of channel
             var documentID = $target.data('document-id');
             var documentModel = $target.data('document-model');
-            this._openDocument(documentModel, documentID);
+            if (!documentModel) {
+                this._openDiscuss('mailbox_inbox');
+            } else {
+                this._openDocument(documentModel, documentID);
+            }
         } else {
             // preview of thread
             this.call('mail_service', 'openThread', previewID);
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/tests/systray/systray_messaging_menu_tests.js b/addons/mail/static/tests/systray/systray_messaging_menu_tests.js
index 02c7ec86e6b..c01e8dbf0ae 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/tests/systray/systray_messaging_menu_tests.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/tests/systray/systray_messaging_menu_tests.js
@@ -146,8 +146,8 @@ QUnit.test('messaging menu widget: messaging menu with 1 record', function (asse
     messagingMenu.destroy();
 });
 
-QUnit.test('messaging menu widget: no crash when clicking on inbox notification not associated to a document', function (assert) {
-    assert.expect(3);
+QUnit.test('messaging menu widget: open inbox for needaction not linked to any document', function (assert) {
+    assert.expect(4);
 
     var messagingMenu = new MessagingMenu();
     testUtils.addMockEnvironment(messagingMenu, {
@@ -156,17 +156,6 @@ QUnit.test('messaging menu widget: no crash when clicking on inbox notification
         session: {
             partner_id: 1,
         },
-        intercepts: {
-            /**
-             * Simulate action 'mail.action_discuss' successfully performed.
-             *
-             * @param {OdooEvent} ev
-             * @param {function} ev.data.on_success called when success action performed
-             */
-            do_action: function (ev) {
-                ev.data.on_success();
-            },
-        },
     });
     messagingMenu.appendTo($('#qunit-fixture'));
 
@@ -195,12 +184,18 @@ QUnit.test('messaging menu widget: no crash when clicking on inbox notification
     assert.strictEqual($firstChannelPreview.data('preview-id'),
         'mailbox_inbox',
         "should be a preview from channel inbox");
-    try {
-        $firstChannelPreview.click();
-        assert.ok(true, "should not have crashed when clicking on needaction preview message");
-    } finally {
-        messagingMenu.destroy();
-    }
+
+    testUtils.intercept(messagingMenu, 'do_action', function (ev) {
+        if (ev.data.action === 'mail.action_discuss') {
+            assert.step('do_action:' + ev.data.action + ':' + ev.data.options.active_id);
+        }
+    }, true);
+    $firstChannelPreview.click();
+    assert.verifySteps(
+        ['do_action:mail.action_discuss:mailbox_inbox'],
+        "should open Discuss with Inbox");
+
+    messagingMenu.destroy();
 });
 
 QUnit.test("messaging menu widget: mark as read on thread preview", function ( assert ) {