diff --git a/src/components/dialogs/MutedWords.tsx b/src/components/dialogs/MutedWords.tsx
index 863255fab6..453b135136 100644
--- a/src/components/dialogs/MutedWords.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dialogs/MutedWords.tsx
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ function MutedWordsInner({}: {control: Dialog.DialogOuterProps['control']}) {
     if (!sanitizedValue || !targets.length) {
       setField('')
       setError(_(msg`Please enter a valid word, tag, or phrase to mute`))
+      return
     }
 
     try {