diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose.js
index 798e56bb0b..1b44c3f435 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose.js
@@ -731,7 +731,7 @@ test_ui("on_events", ({override}) => {
 });
 
 test_ui("create_message_object", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
-    $("#stream_message_recipient_stream").val("social");
+    compose_state.set_stream_name("social");
     $("#stream_message_recipient_topic").val("lunch");
     $("#compose-textarea").val("burrito");
 
@@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ test_ui("create_message_object", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
 
     blueslip.expect("error", "Trying to send message with bad stream name: BOGUS STREAM");
 
-    $("#stream_message_recipient_stream").val("BOGUS STREAM");
+    compose_state.set_stream_name("BOGUS STREAM");
     message = compose.create_message_object();
     assert.equal(message.to, "BOGUS STREAM");
     assert.equal(message.topic, "lunch");
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose_actions.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose_actions.js
index 7c4fe59f8e..44e62b07cf 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose_actions.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose_actions.js
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ test("start", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
     assert_visible("#stream-message");
     assert_hidden("#private-message");
 
-    assert.equal($("#stream_message_recipient_stream").val(), "stream1");
-    assert.equal($("#stream_message_recipient_topic").val(), "topic1");
+    assert.equal(compose_state.stream_name(), "stream1");
+    assert.equal(compose_state.topic(), "topic1");
     assert.equal(compose_state.get_message_type(), "stream");
     assert.ok(compose_state.composing());
 
@@ -151,8 +151,8 @@ test("start", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
 
     opts = {};
     start("stream", opts);
-    assert.equal($("#stream_message_recipient_stream").val(), "Denmark");
-    assert.equal($("#stream_message_recipient_topic").val(), "");
+    assert.equal(compose_state.stream_name(), "Denmark");
+    assert.equal(compose_state.topic(), "");
 
     compose_defaults = {
         trigger: "compose_hotkey",
@@ -160,8 +160,8 @@ test("start", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
 
     opts = {};
     start("stream", opts);
-    assert.equal($("#stream_message_recipient_stream").val(), "Denmark");
-    assert.equal($("#stream_message_recipient_topic").val(), "");
+    assert.equal(compose_state.stream_name(), "Denmark");
+    assert.equal(compose_state.topic(), "");
 
     const social = {
         subscribed: true,
@@ -174,8 +174,8 @@ test("start", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
     // More than 1 subscription, do not autofill
     opts = {};
     start("stream", opts);
-    assert.equal($("#stream_message_recipient_stream").val(), "");
-    assert.equal($("#stream_message_recipient_topic").val(), "");
+    assert.equal(compose_state.stream_name(), "");
+    assert.equal(compose_state.topic(), "");
     stream_data.clear_subscriptions();
 
     // Start PM
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ test("respond_to_message", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
     opts = {};
 
     respond_to_message(opts);
-    assert.equal($("#stream_message_recipient_stream").val(), "devel");
+    assert.equal(compose_state.stream_name(), "devel");
 });
 
 test("reply_with_mention", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ test("reply_with_mention", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
     const opts = {};
 
     reply_with_mention(opts);
-    assert.equal($("#stream_message_recipient_stream").val(), "devel");
+    assert.equal(compose_state.stream_name(), "devel");
     assert.equal(syntax_to_insert, "@**Bob Roberts**");
 
     // Test for extended mention syntax
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ test("reply_with_mention", ({override, override_rewire}) => {
     people.add_active_user(bob_2);
 
     reply_with_mention(opts);
-    assert.equal($("#stream_message_recipient_stream").val(), "devel");
+    assert.equal(compose_state.stream_name(), "devel");
     assert.equal(syntax_to_insert, "@**Bob Roberts|40**");
 });
 
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/composebox_typeahead.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/composebox_typeahead.js
index 2aa159e655..9902fdebb3 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/composebox_typeahead.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/composebox_typeahead.js
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ test("initialize", ({override, mock_template}) => {
             return topics;
         };
 
-        $("#stream_message_recipient_stream").val("Sweden");
+        compose_state.set_stream_name("Sweden");
         let actual_value = options.source();
         // Topics should be sorted alphabetically, not by addition order.
         let expected_value = topics;
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ test("initialize", ({override, mock_template}) => {
         topic_typeahead_called = true;
 
         // Unset the stream name.
-        $("#stream_message_recipient_stream").val("");
+        compose_state.set_stream_name("");
     };
 
     let pm_recipient_typeahead_called = false;
diff --git a/static/js/compose_actions.js b/static/js/compose_actions.js
index 0c1bada851..c856380533 100644
--- a/static/js/compose_actions.js
+++ b/static/js/compose_actions.js
@@ -268,8 +268,8 @@ export function update_placeholder_text() {
 
     const opts = {
         message_type: compose_state.get_message_type(),
-        stream: $("#stream_message_recipient_stream").val(),
-        topic: $("#stream_message_recipient_topic").val(),
+        stream: compose_state.stream_name(),
+        topic: compose_state.topic(),
         private_message_recipient: compose_pm_pill.get_emails(),
     };
 
diff --git a/static/js/compose_fade.js b/static/js/compose_fade.js
index 6c796ed807..de08bd6df0 100644
--- a/static/js/compose_fade.js
+++ b/static/js/compose_fade.js
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ export function set_focused_recipient(msg_type) {
     };
 
     if (focused_recipient.type === "stream") {
-        const stream_name = $("#stream_message_recipient_stream").val();
-        focused_recipient.topic = $("#stream_message_recipient_topic").val();
+        const stream_name = compose_state.stream_name();
+        focused_recipient.topic = compose_state.topic();
         focused_recipient.stream = stream_name;
         const sub = stream_data.get_sub(stream_name);
         if (sub) {