diff --git a/static/js/compose.js b/static/js/compose.js
index da7b1bb573..79e50d4515 100644
--- a/static/js/compose.js
+++ b/static/js/compose.js
@@ -333,7 +333,9 @@ function compose_error(error_text, bad_input) {
     $('#error-msg').html(error_text);
     $("#compose-send-button").removeAttr('disabled');
     $("#sending-indicator").hide();
-    bad_input.focus().select();
+    if (bad_input !== undefined) {
+        bad_input.focus().select();
+    }
 }
 
 var send_options;
@@ -649,6 +651,11 @@ exports.validate = function () {
         return false;
     }
 
+    if ($("#zephyr-mirror-error").is(":visible")) {
+        compose_error("You need to link with Webathena before you can send messages!");
+        return false;
+    }
+
     if (exports.composing() === 'private') {
         return validate_private_message();
     } else {