diff --git a/web/src/typing_events.ts b/web/src/typing_events.ts
index 8e2bb48170..16e7c6ccd0 100644
--- a/web/src/typing_events.ts
+++ b/web/src/typing_events.ts
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ function get_users_typing_for_narrow(): number[] {
     }
 
     const terms = narrow_state.search_terms();
-    if (terms.length === 0) {
+    if (terms[0] === undefined) {
         return [];
     }