diff --git a/zephyr/static/js/ui.js b/zephyr/static/js/ui.js
index fc903baa0b..1b2505e3f7 100644
--- a/zephyr/static/js/ui.js
+++ b/zephyr/static/js/ui.js
@@ -1204,7 +1204,7 @@ $(function () {
     });
 
     $('#user_presences').on('click', 'a', function (e) {
-        var email = $(e.target).attr('data-email');
+        var email = $(e.target).closest('a').attr('data-email');
         narrow.by('pm-with', email, {trigger: 'presence list'});
         compose.start('private', {private_message_recipient: email,
                                   trigger: 'presence list'});