diff --git a/web/src/compose.js b/web/src/compose.js
index 9b4d5d3b20..486557ff61 100644
--- a/web/src/compose.js
+++ b/web/src/compose.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import * as channel from "./channel";
 import * as compose_actions from "./compose_actions";
 import * as compose_banner from "./compose_banner";
 import {get_recipient_label} from "./compose_closed_ui";
+import * as compose_recipient from "./compose_recipient";
 import * as compose_state from "./compose_state";
 import * as compose_ui from "./compose_ui";
 import * as compose_validate from "./compose_validate";
@@ -766,11 +767,11 @@ export function initialize() {
     });
 
     $("#compose-textarea").on("focus", () => {
-        compose_actions.update_placeholder_text();
+        compose_recipient.update_placeholder_text();
     });
 
     $("#stream_message_recipient_topic").on("focus", () => {
-        compose_actions.update_placeholder_text();
+        compose_recipient.update_placeholder_text();
     });
 
     $("body").on("click", ".formatting_button", (e) => {
diff --git a/web/src/compose_actions.js b/web/src/compose_actions.js
index 97b1424de1..e8a5c83501 100644
--- a/web/src/compose_actions.js
+++ b/web/src/compose_actions.js
@@ -48,69 +48,12 @@ function hide_box() {
     $("#compose_controls").show();
 }
 
-function get_focus_area(msg_type, opts) {
-    // Set focus to "Topic" when narrowed to a stream+topic and "New topic" button clicked.
-    if (msg_type === "stream" && opts.stream && !opts.topic) {
-        return "#stream_message_recipient_topic";
-    } else if (
-        (msg_type === "stream" && opts.stream) ||
-        (msg_type === "private" && opts.private_message_recipient)
-    ) {
-        if (opts.trigger === "new topic button") {
-            return "#stream_message_recipient_topic";
-        }
-        return "#compose-textarea";
-    }
-
-    if (msg_type === "stream") {
-        return "#compose_select_recipient_widget";
-    }
-    return "#private_message_recipient";
-}
-
-// Export for testing
-export const _get_focus_area = get_focus_area;
-
-export function set_focus(msg_type, opts) {
-    if (window.getSelection().toString() === "" || opts.trigger !== "message click") {
-        const focus_area = get_focus_area(msg_type, opts);
-        const $elt = $(focus_area);
-        $elt.trigger("focus").trigger("select");
-    }
-}
-
-export function show_compose_box(msg_type, opts) {
-    if (msg_type === "stream") {
-        $("#compose-direct-recipient").hide();
-        $("#stream_message_recipient_topic").show();
-        $("#stream_toggle").addClass("active");
-        $("#private_message_toggle").removeClass("active");
-        $("#compose-recipient").removeClass("compose-recipient-direct-selected");
-    } else {
-        $("#compose-direct-recipient").show();
-        $("#stream_message_recipient_topic").hide();
-        $("#stream_toggle").removeClass("active");
-        $("#private_message_toggle").addClass("active");
-        $("#compose-recipient").addClass("compose-recipient-direct-selected");
-        // TODO: When "Direct message" is selected, we show "DM" on the dropdown
-        // button. It would be nice if the dropdown supported a way to attach
-        // the "DM" button display string so we wouldn't have to manually change
-        // it here.
-        const direct_message_label = $t({defaultMessage: "DM"});
-        $("#compose_select_recipient_name").html(
-            `<i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-users stream-privacy-type-icon"></i> ${direct_message_label}`,
-        );
-    }
-    compose_banner.clear_errors();
-    compose_banner.clear_warnings();
+function show_compose_box(msg_type, opts) {
+    compose_recipient.update_compose_for_message_type(msg_type, opts);
     $("#compose").css({visibility: "visible"});
     // When changing this, edit the 42px in _maybe_autoscroll
     $(".new_message_textarea").css("min-height", "3em");
-
-    if (opts.trigger === "toggle recipient type") {
-        update_placeholder_text();
-    }
-    set_focus(msg_type, opts);
+    compose_ui.set_focus(msg_type, opts);
 }
 
 export function clear_textarea() {
@@ -164,7 +107,7 @@ export function complete_starting_tasks(msg_type, opts) {
     compose_fade.start_compose(msg_type);
     stream_bar.decorate(opts.stream, $("#stream_message_recipient_topic .message_header_stream"));
     $(document).trigger(new $.Event("compose_started.zulip", opts));
-    update_placeholder_text();
+    compose_recipient.update_placeholder_text();
     compose_recipient.update_narrow_to_recipient_visibility();
 }
 
@@ -220,22 +163,6 @@ function same_recipient_as_before(msg_type, opts) {
     );
 }
 
-export function update_placeholder_text() {
-    // Change compose placeholder text only if compose box is open.
-    if (!$("#compose-textarea").is(":visible")) {
-        return;
-    }
-
-    const opts = {
-        message_type: compose_state.get_message_type(),
-        stream: compose_state.stream_name(),
-        topic: compose_state.topic(),
-        private_message_recipient: compose_pm_pill.get_emails(),
-    };
-
-    $("#compose-textarea").attr("placeholder", compose_ui.compute_placeholder_text(opts));
-}
-
 export function start(msg_type, opts) {
     if (page_params.is_spectator) {
         spectators.login_to_access();
diff --git a/web/src/compose_pm_pill.js b/web/src/compose_pm_pill.js
index dea9a5e881..fdd5f8db73 100644
--- a/web/src/compose_pm_pill.js
+++ b/web/src/compose_pm_pill.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import $ from "jquery";
 
-import * as compose_actions from "./compose_actions";
+import * as compose_recipient from "./compose_recipient";
 import * as input_pill from "./input_pill";
 import * as people from "./people";
 import * as user_pill from "./user_pill";
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ export function initialize() {
     widget = initialize_pill();
 
     widget.onPillCreate(() => {
-        compose_actions.update_placeholder_text();
+        compose_recipient.update_placeholder_text();
     });
 
     widget.onPillRemove(() => {
-        compose_actions.update_placeholder_text();
+        compose_recipient.update_placeholder_text();
     });
 }
 
diff --git a/web/src/compose_recipient.js b/web/src/compose_recipient.js
index c98168c79f..1d2be36038 100644
--- a/web/src/compose_recipient.js
+++ b/web/src/compose_recipient.js
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@
 import $ from "jquery";
 import _ from "lodash";
 
-// todo: fix circular import here
-import * as compose_actions from "./compose_actions";
 import * as compose_banner from "./compose_banner";
 import * as compose_fade from "./compose_fade";
+import * as compose_pm_pill from "./compose_pm_pill";
 import * as compose_state from "./compose_state";
+import * as compose_ui from "./compose_ui";
 import * as compose_validate from "./compose_validate";
 import {DropdownListWidget} from "./dropdown_list_widget";
 import {$t} from "./i18n";
@@ -134,12 +134,39 @@ function switch_message_type(message_type) {
 
     const opts = {
         message_type,
-        trigger: "toggle recipient type",
         stream: compose_state.stream_name(),
         topic: compose_state.topic(),
         private_message_recipient: compose_state.private_message_recipient(),
     };
-    compose_actions.show_compose_box(message_type, opts);
+    update_compose_for_message_type(message_type, opts);
+    update_placeholder_text();
+    compose_ui.set_focus(message_type, opts);
+}
+
+export function update_compose_for_message_type(message_type) {
+    if (message_type === "stream") {
+        $("#compose-direct-recipient").hide();
+        $("#stream_message_recipient_topic").show();
+        $("#stream_toggle").addClass("active");
+        $("#private_message_toggle").removeClass("active");
+        $("#compose-recipient").removeClass("compose-recipient-direct-selected");
+    } else {
+        $("#compose-direct-recipient").show();
+        $("#stream_message_recipient_topic").hide();
+        $("#stream_toggle").removeClass("active");
+        $("#private_message_toggle").addClass("active");
+        $("#compose-recipient").addClass("compose-recipient-direct-selected");
+        // TODO: When "Direct message" is selected, we show "DM" on the dropdown
+        // button. It would be nice if the dropdown supported a way to attach
+        // the "DM" button display string so we wouldn't have to manually change
+        // it here.
+        const direct_message_label = $t({defaultMessage: "DM"});
+        $("#compose_select_recipient_name").html(
+            `<i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-users stream-privacy-type-icon"></i> ${direct_message_label}`,
+        );
+    }
+    compose_banner.clear_errors();
+    compose_banner.clear_warnings();
 }
 
 export function on_compose_select_recipient_update(new_value) {
@@ -246,3 +273,21 @@ export function initialize() {
         compose_state.set_recipient_edited_manually(true);
     });
 }
+
+export function update_placeholder_text() {
+    // Change compose placeholder text only if compose box is open.
+    if (!$("#compose-textarea").is(":visible")) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    const opts = {
+        message_type: compose_state.get_message_type(),
+        stream: compose_state.stream_name(),
+        topic: compose_state.topic(),
+        // TODO: to remove a circular import, PM recipient needs
+        // to be calculated in compose_state instead of compose_pm_pill.
+        private_message_recipient: compose_pm_pill.get_emails(),
+    };
+
+    $("#compose-textarea").attr("placeholder", compose_ui.compute_placeholder_text(opts));
+}
diff --git a/web/src/compose_ui.js b/web/src/compose_ui.js
index 44cc98b203..cbfac1738f 100644
--- a/web/src/compose_ui.js
+++ b/web/src/compose_ui.js
@@ -33,6 +33,37 @@ export function autosize_textarea($textarea) {
     }
 }
 
+function get_focus_area(msg_type, opts) {
+    // Set focus to "Topic" when narrowed to a stream+topic and "New topic" button clicked.
+    if (msg_type === "stream" && opts.stream && !opts.topic) {
+        return "#stream_message_recipient_topic";
+    } else if (
+        (msg_type === "stream" && opts.stream) ||
+        (msg_type === "private" && opts.private_message_recipient)
+    ) {
+        if (opts.trigger === "new topic button") {
+            return "#stream_message_recipient_topic";
+        }
+        return "#compose-textarea";
+    }
+
+    if (msg_type === "stream") {
+        return "#compose_select_recipient_widget";
+    }
+    return "#private_message_recipient";
+}
+
+// Export for testing
+export const _get_focus_area = get_focus_area;
+
+export function set_focus(msg_type, opts) {
+    if (window.getSelection().toString() === "" || opts.trigger !== "message click") {
+        const focus_area = get_focus_area(msg_type, opts);
+        const $elt = $(focus_area);
+        $elt.trigger("focus").trigger("select");
+    }
+}
+
 export function smart_insert_inline($textarea, syntax) {
     function is_space(c) {
         return c === " " || c === "\t" || c === "\n";
diff --git a/web/src/server_events_dispatch.js b/web/src/server_events_dispatch.js
index 89a4943216..c7ecc9d0d6 100644
--- a/web/src/server_events_dispatch.js
+++ b/web/src/server_events_dispatch.js
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import * as blueslip from "./blueslip";
 import * as bot_data from "./bot_data";
 import {buddy_list} from "./buddy_list";
 import * as compose from "./compose";
-import * as compose_actions from "./compose_actions";
 import * as compose_fade from "./compose_fade";
 import * as compose_pm_pill from "./compose_pm_pill";
 import * as compose_recipient from "./compose_recipient";
@@ -827,7 +826,7 @@ export function dispatch_normal_event(event) {
 
                 // Update the status text in compose box placeholder when opened to self.
                 if (compose_pm_pill.get_user_ids().includes(event.user_id)) {
-                    compose_actions.update_placeholder_text();
+                    compose_recipient.update_placeholder_text();
                 }
             }
 
diff --git a/web/tests/compose.test.js b/web/tests/compose.test.js
index b7760c291d..4e2fce9af7 100644
--- a/web/tests/compose.test.js
+++ b/web/tests/compose.test.js
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ test_ui("trigger_submit_compose_form", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
     assert.ok(compose_finish_checked);
 });
 
-test_ui("on_events", ({override}) => {
+test_ui("on_events", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
     mock_stream_header_colorblock();
 
     initialize_handlers({override});
@@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ test_ui("on_events", ({override}) => {
             stopPropagation: noop,
         };
 
-        override(compose_actions, "update_placeholder_text", noop);
+        override_rewire(compose_recipient, "update_placeholder_text", noop);
 
         handler(event);
 
diff --git a/web/tests/compose_actions.test.js b/web/tests/compose_actions.test.js
index e40a3b34fa..2e7619a830 100644
--- a/web/tests/compose_actions.test.js
+++ b/web/tests/compose_actions.test.js
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ const compose_pm_pill = mock_esm("../src/compose_pm_pill");
 const compose_ui = mock_esm("../src/compose_ui", {
     autosize_textarea: noop,
     is_full_size: () => false,
+    set_focus: noop,
 });
 const hash_util = mock_esm("../src/hash_util");
 const narrow_state = mock_esm("../src/narrow_state", {
@@ -80,7 +81,6 @@ compose_recipient.compose_recipient_widget = {
 
 const start = compose_actions.start;
 const cancel = compose_actions.cancel;
-const get_focus_area = compose_actions._get_focus_area;
 const respond_to_message = compose_actions.respond_to_message;
 const reply_with_mention = compose_actions.reply_with_mention;
 const quote_and_reply = compose_actions.quote_and_reply;
@@ -126,7 +126,6 @@ test("start", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
     override_private_message_recipient({override});
     override_rewire(compose_actions, "autosize_message_content", () => {});
     override_rewire(compose_actions, "expand_compose_box", () => {});
-    override_rewire(compose_actions, "set_focus", () => {});
     override_rewire(compose_actions, "complete_starting_tasks", () => {});
     override_rewire(compose_actions, "blur_compose_inputs", () => {});
     override_rewire(compose_actions, "clear_textarea", () => {});
@@ -251,7 +250,6 @@ test("start", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
 
 test("respond_to_message", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
     mock_banners();
-    override_rewire(compose_actions, "set_focus", () => {});
     override_rewire(compose_actions, "complete_starting_tasks", () => {});
     override_rewire(compose_actions, "clear_textarea", () => {});
     override_rewire(compose_recipient, "on_compose_select_recipient_update", noop);
@@ -296,7 +294,6 @@ test("reply_with_mention", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
     mock_banners();
     mock_stream_header_colorblock();
     compose_state.set_message_type("stream");
-    override_rewire(compose_actions, "set_focus", () => {});
     override_rewire(compose_actions, "complete_starting_tasks", () => {});
     override_rewire(compose_actions, "clear_textarea", () => {});
     override_private_message_recipient({override});
@@ -351,7 +348,6 @@ test("quote_and_reply", ({disallow, override, override_rewire}) => {
     };
     people.add_active_user(steve);
 
-    override_rewire(compose_actions, "set_focus", () => {});
     override_rewire(compose_actions, "complete_starting_tasks", () => {});
     override_rewire(compose_actions, "clear_textarea", () => {});
     override_private_message_recipient({override});
@@ -436,23 +432,6 @@ test("quote_and_reply", ({disallow, override, override_rewire}) => {
     assert.ok(replaced);
 });
 
-test("get_focus_area", () => {
-    assert.equal(get_focus_area("private", {}), "#private_message_recipient");
-    assert.equal(
-        get_focus_area("private", {
-            private_message_recipient: "bob@example.com",
-        }),
-        "#compose-textarea",
-    );
-    assert.equal(get_focus_area("stream", {}), "#compose_select_recipient_widget");
-    assert.equal(get_focus_area("stream", {stream: "fun"}), "#stream_message_recipient_topic");
-    assert.equal(get_focus_area("stream", {stream: "fun", topic: "more"}), "#compose-textarea");
-    assert.equal(
-        get_focus_area("stream", {stream: "fun", topic: "more", trigger: "new topic button"}),
-        "#stream_message_recipient_topic",
-    );
-});
-
 test("focus_in_empty_compose", () => {
     document.activeElement = {id: "compose-textarea"};
     compose_state.set_message_type("stream");
diff --git a/web/tests/compose_pm_pill.test.js b/web/tests/compose_pm_pill.test.js
index f649b115a9..41cc5b7572 100644
--- a/web/tests/compose_pm_pill.test.js
+++ b/web/tests/compose_pm_pill.test.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ const {mock_esm, zrequire} = require("./lib/namespace");
 const {run_test} = require("./lib/test");
 const $ = require("./lib/zjquery");
 
-const compose_actions = mock_esm("../src/compose_actions");
+const compose_recipient = mock_esm("../src/compose_recipient");
 const input_pill = mock_esm("../src/input_pill");
 const people = zrequire("people");
 
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ let pills = {
 };
 
 run_test("pills", ({override}) => {
-    override(compose_actions, "update_placeholder_text", () => {});
+    override(compose_recipient, "update_placeholder_text", () => {});
 
     const othello = {
         user_id: 1,
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ run_test("pills", ({override}) => {
     // We stub the return value of input_pill.create(), manually add widget functions to it.
     pills.onPillCreate = (callback) => {
         // Exercise our callback for line coverage. It is
-        // just compose_actions.update_placeholder_text(),
+        // just compose_recipient.update_placeholder_text(),
         // which we override.
         callback();
     };
diff --git a/web/tests/compose_ui.test.js b/web/tests/compose_ui.test.js
index 2992e77302..28a4062d30 100644
--- a/web/tests/compose_ui.test.js
+++ b/web/tests/compose_ui.test.js
@@ -749,3 +749,21 @@ run_test("right-to-left", () => {
 
     assert.equal($textarea.hasClass("rtl"), false);
 });
+
+const get_focus_area = compose_ui._get_focus_area;
+run_test("get_focus_area", () => {
+    assert.equal(get_focus_area("private", {}), "#private_message_recipient");
+    assert.equal(
+        get_focus_area("private", {
+            private_message_recipient: "bob@example.com",
+        }),
+        "#compose-textarea",
+    );
+    assert.equal(get_focus_area("stream", {}), "#compose_select_recipient_widget");
+    assert.equal(get_focus_area("stream", {stream: "fun"}), "#stream_message_recipient_topic");
+    assert.equal(get_focus_area("stream", {stream: "fun", topic: "more"}), "#compose-textarea");
+    assert.equal(
+        get_focus_area("stream", {stream: "fun", topic: "more", trigger: "new topic button"}),
+        "#stream_message_recipient_topic",
+    );
+});
diff --git a/web/tests/compose_validate.test.js b/web/tests/compose_validate.test.js
index c67b9604f4..7aeff4da77 100644
--- a/web/tests/compose_validate.test.js
+++ b/web/tests/compose_validate.test.js
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ const {page_params} = require("./lib/zpage_params");
 
 const channel = mock_esm("../src/channel");
 
-const compose_actions = zrequire("compose_actions");
 const compose_banner = zrequire("compose_banner");
 const compose_pm_pill = zrequire("compose_pm_pill");
 const compose_state = zrequire("compose_state");
@@ -148,7 +147,7 @@ test_ui("validate_stream_message_address_info", ({mock_template}) => {
 });
 
 test_ui("validate", ({mock_template}) => {
-    compose_actions.update_placeholder_text = () => {};
+    compose_recipient.update_placeholder_text = () => {};
     compose_recipient.on_compose_select_recipient_update = () => {};
 
     function initialize_pm_pill() {