 
   renderFooter: ->
 
-    return null  unless @props.messages
+    return null  unless @props.thread?.get 'messages'
 
     { thread } = @props
 

    <ChatPane
      thread     = { @props.thread }
      className  = "PublicChatPane"
      messages   = { @props.messages }
      onSubmit   = { @bound 'onSubmit' }
      afterInviteOthers = {@bound 'afterInviteOthers'}
      onLoadMore = { @bound 'onLoadMore' }>
      {@renderFooter()}
    </ChatPane>



  @defaultProps =
    thread   : immutable.Map()
    padded   : no

  constructor: (props) ->
