diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/ConversationRequestButtons.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/ConversationRequestButtons.tsx
index 7ff0eaac5..2c19ea1c3 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/ConversationRequestButtons.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/ConversationRequestButtons.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
 import { MessageDirection } from '../../models/messageType';
 import { getConversationController } from '../../session/conversations';
 import { forceSyncConfigurationNowIfNeeded } from '../../session/utils/syncUtils';
+import { clearConversationFocus } from '../../state/ducks/conversations';
 import { updateConfirmModal } from '../../state/ducks/modalDialog';
 import { getSelectedConversation } from '../../state/selectors/conversations';
 import { SessionButton, SessionButtonColor, SessionButtonType } from '../basic/SessionButton';
@@ -55,9 +56,11 @@ export const ConversationMessageRequestButtons = () => {
         cancelText: window.i18n('cancel'),
         message: window.i18n('declineRequestMessage'),
         onClickOk: async () => {
-          await declineConversation(selectedConversation.id, false);
-          await blockConvoById(selectedConversation.id);
+          const { id } = selectedConversation;
+          await declineConversation(id, false);
+          await blockConvoById(id);
           await forceSyncConfigurationNowIfNeeded();
+          await clearConversationFocus();
         },
         onClickCancel: () => {
           dispatch(updateConfirmModal(null));
diff --git a/ts/components/leftpane/ActionsPanel.tsx b/ts/components/leftpane/ActionsPanel.tsx
index 990ee501b..e30b3ede6 100644
--- a/ts/components/leftpane/ActionsPanel.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/leftpane/ActionsPanel.tsx
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ const Section = (props: { type: SectionType }) => {
       // Show Path Indicator Modal
       dispatch(onionPathModal({}));
     } else {
+      // message section
       dispatch(clearSearch());
       dispatch(showLeftPaneSection(type));
       dispatch(setOverlayMode(undefined));
diff --git a/ts/components/leftpane/overlay/OverlayMessageRequest.tsx b/ts/components/leftpane/overlay/OverlayMessageRequest.tsx
index f11fc3f82..9d3c6086c 100644
--- a/ts/components/leftpane/overlay/OverlayMessageRequest.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/leftpane/overlay/OverlayMessageRequest.tsx
@@ -3,16 +3,19 @@ import React from 'react';
 
 import { SpacerLG } from '../../basic/Text';
 import { useDispatch, useSelector } from 'react-redux';
-import { getConversationRequests } from '../../../state/selectors/conversations';
+import {
+  getConversationRequests,
+  getSelectedConversation,
+} from '../../../state/selectors/conversations';
 import { MemoConversationListItemWithDetails } from '../conversation-list-item/ConversationListItem';
 import styled from 'styled-components';
 import { SessionButton, SessionButtonColor, SessionButtonType } from '../../basic/SessionButton';
-import { setOverlayMode } from '../../../state/ducks/section';
+import { SectionType, setOverlayMode, showLeftPaneSection } from '../../../state/ducks/section';
 import { getConversationController } from '../../../session/conversations';
 import { forceSyncConfigurationNowIfNeeded } from '../../../session/utils/syncUtils';
 import { BlockedNumberController } from '../../../util';
 import useKey from 'react-use/lib/useKey';
-import { ReduxConversationType } from '../../../state/ducks/conversations';
+import { clearConversationFocus, ReduxConversationType } from '../../../state/ducks/conversations';
 import { updateConfirmModal } from '../../../state/ducks/modalDialog';
 
 export const OverlayMessageRequest = () => {
@@ -21,8 +24,9 @@ export const OverlayMessageRequest = () => {
   function closeOverlay() {
     dispatch(setOverlayMode(undefined));
   }
-  const hasRequests = useSelector(getConversationRequests).length > 0;
+  const convoRequestCount = useSelector(getConversationRequests).length;
   const messageRequests = useSelector(getConversationRequests);
+  const selectedConversation = useSelector(getSelectedConversation);
 
   const buttonText = window.i18n('clearAll');
 
@@ -30,7 +34,7 @@ export const OverlayMessageRequest = () => {
    * Blocks all message request conversations and synchronizes across linked devices
    * @returns void
    */
-  async function handleBlockAllRequestsClick(convoRequests: Array<ReduxConversationType>) {
+  async function handleClearAllRequestsClick(convoRequests: Array<ReduxConversationType>) {
     const { i18n } = window;
     const title = i18n('clearAllConfirmationTitle');
     const message = i18n('clearAllConfirmationBody');
@@ -48,10 +52,10 @@ export const OverlayMessageRequest = () => {
             return;
           }
 
-          let syncRequired = false;
+          let newConvosBlocked = [];
           const convoController = getConversationController();
           await Promise.all(
-            convoRequests.map(async convo => {
+            (newConvosBlocked = convoRequests.filter(async convo => {
               const { id } = convo;
               const convoModel = convoController.get(id);
               if (!convoModel.isBlocked()) {
@@ -60,13 +64,24 @@ export const OverlayMessageRequest = () => {
               }
               await convoModel.setIsApproved(false);
 
-              syncRequired = true;
-            })
+              // if we're looking at the convo to decline, close the convo
+              if (selectedConversation?.id === id) {
+                await clearConversationFocus();
+              }
+              return true;
+            }))
           );
 
-          if (syncRequired) {
+          if (newConvosBlocked) {
             await forceSyncConfigurationNowIfNeeded();
           }
+
+          // if no more requests, return to placeholder screen
+          if (convoRequestCount === newConvosBlocked.length) {
+            dispatch(setOverlayMode(undefined));
+            dispatch(showLeftPaneSection(SectionType.Message));
+            await clearConversationFocus();
+          }
         },
       })
     );
@@ -74,7 +89,7 @@ export const OverlayMessageRequest = () => {
 
   return (
     <div className="module-left-pane-overlay">
-      {hasRequests ? (
+      {convoRequestCount ? (
         <>
           <MessageRequestList />
           <SpacerLG />
@@ -83,7 +98,7 @@ export const OverlayMessageRequest = () => {
             buttonType={SessionButtonType.BrandOutline}
             text={buttonText}
             onClick={async () => {
-              await handleBlockAllRequestsClick(messageRequests);
+              await handleClearAllRequestsClick(messageRequests);
             }}
           />
         </>
diff --git a/ts/state/ducks/conversations.ts b/ts/state/ducks/conversations.ts
index 6b9db1bf0..b3b8bfbd6 100644
--- a/ts/state/ducks/conversations.ts
+++ b/ts/state/ducks/conversations.ts
@@ -696,7 +696,12 @@ const conversationsSlice = createSlice({
         firstUnreadMessageId: undefined,
       };
     },
-
+    /**
+     * Closes any existing conversation and returns state to the placeholder screen
+     */
+    resetConversationExternal(state: ConversationsStateType) {
+      return { ...getEmptyConversationState(), conversationLookup: state.conversationLookup };
+    },
     openConversationExternal(
       state: ConversationsStateType,
       action: PayloadAction<{
@@ -973,6 +978,10 @@ export async function openConversationWithMessages(args: {
   );
 }
 
+export async function clearConversationFocus() {
+  window.inboxStore?.dispatch(actions.resetConversationExternal());
+}
+
 export async function openConversationToSpecificMessage(args: {
   conversationKey: string;
   messageIdToNavigateTo: string;