diff --git a/js/views/conversation_list_item_view.js b/js/views/conversation_list_item_view.js
index 0aa3e5313e..dc19b0773c 100644
--- a/js/views/conversation_list_item_view.js
+++ b/js/views/conversation_list_item_view.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ var Whisper = Whisper || {};
     },
 
     open: function(e) {
+      $('#main').trigger('close'); // detach any existing conversation views
       var v = new Whisper.ConversationView({el: $('#main'), model: this.model});
     },
 
diff --git a/js/views/conversation_view.js b/js/views/conversation_view.js
index b6d2e20bd7..61e1e2f3d0 100644
--- a/js/views/conversation_view.js
+++ b/js/views/conversation_view.js
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@ var Whisper = Whisper || {};
   Whisper.ConversationView = Backbone.View.extend({
     initialize: function() {
       this.listenTo(this.model, 'destroy', this.remove); // auto update
+
       var v = new Whisper.MessageListView({collection: this.model.messages()});
       v.render();
     },
     events: {
       'submit #new-message': 'sendMessage',
+      'close': 'remove'
     },
 
     sendMessage: function(e) {