diff --git a/js/background.js b/js/background.js
index 08beed05c..7da22cc34 100644
--- a/js/background.js
+++ b/js/background.js
@@ -251,8 +251,10 @@
                             id: message.get('conversationId')
                         });
 
-                        // notify frontend listeners
-                        conversation.trigger('read', message);
+                        if (conversation) {
+                            // notify frontend listeners
+                            conversation.trigger('read', message);
+                        }
                     });
                 }
             });