diff --git a/web/src/compose_recipient.ts b/web/src/compose_recipient.ts
index 3477dd7486..64fcd26358 100644
--- a/web/src/compose_recipient.ts
+++ b/web/src/compose_recipient.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ 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 type {ComposePlaceholderOptions, ComposeTriggeredOptions} from "./compose_ui";
+import type {ComposeTriggeredOptions} from "./compose_ui";
 import * as compose_validate from "./compose_validate";
 import * as drafts from "./drafts";
 import * as dropdown_widget from "./dropdown_widget";
@@ -362,22 +362,21 @@ export function update_placeholder_text(): void {
         return;
     }
     const message_type = compose_state.get_message_type();
-    assert(message_type !== undefined);
 
-    let opts: ComposePlaceholderOptions;
+    let placeholder = compose_ui.DEFAULT_COMPOSE_PLACEHOLDER;
     if (message_type === "stream") {
         const stream_id = compose_state.stream_id();
-        opts = {
+        placeholder = compose_ui.compute_placeholder_text({
             message_type,
             stream_id,
             topic: compose_state.topic(),
-        };
-    } else {
-        opts = {
+        });
+    } else if (message_type === "private") {
+        placeholder = compose_ui.compute_placeholder_text({
             message_type,
             direct_message_user_ids: compose_pm_pill.get_user_ids(),
-        };
+        });
     }
 
-    $("textarea#compose-textarea").attr("placeholder", compose_ui.compute_placeholder_text(opts));
+    $("textarea#compose-textarea").attr("placeholder", placeholder);
 }
diff --git a/web/src/compose_ui.ts b/web/src/compose_ui.ts
index b50d2fed98..7da357ec6b 100644
--- a/web/src/compose_ui.ts
+++ b/web/src/compose_ui.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ import * as stream_data from "./stream_data";
 import * as user_status from "./user_status";
 import * as util from "./util";
 
+export const DEFAULT_COMPOSE_PLACEHOLDER = $t({defaultMessage: "Compose your message here"});
+
 export type ComposeTriggeredOptions = {
     trigger: string;
 } & (
@@ -333,7 +335,7 @@ export function compute_placeholder_text(opts: ComposePlaceholderOptions): strin
         }
         return $t({defaultMessage: "Message {recipient_names}"}, {recipient_names});
     }
-    return $t({defaultMessage: "Compose your message here"});
+    return DEFAULT_COMPOSE_PLACEHOLDER;
 }
 
 export function set_compose_box_top(set_top: boolean): void {