diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/composition/CompositionBox.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/composition/CompositionBox.tsx
index 1e4ee6c39..c117a109c 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/composition/CompositionBox.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/composition/CompositionBox.tsx
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ interface State {
   htmlDirection?: HTMLDirection;
 }
 
-const sendMessageStyle = (dir: HTMLDirection) => {
+const sendMessageStyle = (dir?: HTMLDirection) => {
   return {
     control: {
       wordBreak: 'break-all',
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ class CompositionBoxInner extends React.Component<Props, State> {
     const { typingEnabled } = this.props;
     const neverMatchingRegex = /($a)/;
 
-    const style = sendMessageStyle(htmlDirection || 'ltr');
+    const style = sendMessageStyle(htmlDirection);
 
     return (
       <MentionsInput
diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/composition/UserMentions.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/composition/UserMentions.tsx
index badc3bf76..e5c7aeef5 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/composition/UserMentions.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/composition/UserMentions.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { HTMLDirection } from '../../../util/i18n';
 
 const listRTLStyle = { position: 'absolute', bottom: '0px', right: '100%' };
 
-export const styleForCompositionBoxSuggestions = (dir: HTMLDirection) => {
+export const styleForCompositionBoxSuggestions = (dir: HTMLDirection = 'ltr') => {
   const styles = {
     suggestions: {
       list: {