diff --git a/zephyr/static/js/hotkey.js b/zephyr/static/js/hotkey.js
index e2ff6d7522..d1ad923c2e 100644
--- a/zephyr/static/js/hotkey.js
+++ b/zephyr/static/js/hotkey.js
@@ -170,8 +170,7 @@ function process_hotkey(e) {
         if ((event_name === 'up_arrow' || event_name === 'down_arrow')
             && compose.composing()
             && compose.message_content() === ""
-            && $('#new_message_content').is(':focus')
-            && page_params.staging) {
+            && $('#new_message_content').is(':focus')) {
                 compose.cancel();
                 // don't return, as we still want it to be picked up by the code below
         } else {