diff --git a/src/state/messages/index.tsx b/src/state/messages/index.tsx
index e3485f642e..95ebf0afdd 100644
--- a/src/state/messages/index.tsx
+++ b/src/state/messages/index.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import React, {useContext, useState, useSyncExternalStore} from 'react'
 import {AppState} from 'react-native'
 import {BskyAgent} from '@atproto-labs/api'
-import {useFocusEffect} from '@react-navigation/native'
+import {useFocusEffect, useIsFocused} from '@react-navigation/native'
 
 import {Convo, ConvoParams, ConvoState} from '#/state/messages/convo'
 import {useAgent} from '#/state/session'
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ export function ChatProvider({
   children,
   convoId,
 }: Pick<ConvoParams, 'convoId'> & {children: React.ReactNode}) {
+  const isScreenFocused = useIsFocused()
   const {serviceUrl} = useDmServiceUrlStorage()
   const {getAgent} = useAgent()
   const [convo] = useState(
@@ -47,10 +48,12 @@ export function ChatProvider({
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
     const handleAppStateChange = (nextAppState: string) => {
-      if (nextAppState === 'active') {
-        convo.resume()
-      } else {
-        convo.background()
+      if (isScreenFocused) {
+        if (nextAppState === 'active') {
+          convo.resume()
+        } else {
+          convo.background()
+        }
       }
     }
 
@@ -59,7 +62,7 @@ export function ChatProvider({
     return () => {
       sub.remove()
     }
-  }, [convo])
+  }, [convo, isScreenFocused])
 
   return <ChatContext.Provider value={service}>{children}</ChatContext.Provider>
 }