diff --git a/js/models/messages.js b/js/models/messages.js
index 66e333ab..9ed60cb5 100644
--- a/js/models/messages.js
+++ b/js/models/messages.js
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
             }
             var c = ConversationController.get(conversationId);
             if (!c) {
-                c = ConversationController.create({id: conversationId});
+                c = ConversationController.create({id: conversationId, type: 'private'});
                 c.fetch();
             }
             return c;