diff --git a/zephyr/static/js/message_edit.js b/zephyr/static/js/message_edit.js
index 27cf81cf1c..76989dc163 100644
--- a/zephyr/static/js/message_edit.js
+++ b/zephyr/static/js/message_edit.js
@@ -14,21 +14,22 @@ exports.save = function (row) {
     if (new_content !== message.raw_content) {
         request.content = new_content;
     }
-    if ((request.subject !== undefined) ||
-        (request.content !== undefined)) {
-        $.ajax({
-            type: 'POST',
-            url: '/json/update_message',
-            data: request,
-            dataType: 'json',
-            success: function (data) {
-                if (msg_list === current_msg_list) {
-                    message_edit.cancel(row);
-                }
-            }
-        });
+    if (request.subject === undefined &&
+        request.content === undefined) {
+        // If they didn't change anything, just cancel it.
+        return message_edit.cancel(row);
     }
-    message_edit.cancel(row);
+    $.ajax({
+        type: 'POST',
+        url: '/json/update_message',
+        data: request,
+        dataType: 'json',
+        success: function (data) {
+            if (msg_list === current_msg_list) {
+                message_edit.cancel(row);
+            }
+        }
+    });
     // The message will automatically get replaced when it arrives.
 };