diff --git a/Tiltfile b/Tiltfile
index 8d0cd7ee5..2ea00a435 100644
--- a/Tiltfile
+++ b/Tiltfile
@@ -39,4 +39,5 @@ local_resource(
   serve_dir="packages/inject",
   serve_cmd="yarn serve",
   labels=["service"],
+  resource_deps=["messaging"],
 )
diff --git a/packages/webchat/src/components/messages/MessageList.tsx b/packages/webchat/src/components/messages/MessageList.tsx
index 7651a9554..90ba5a371 100644
--- a/packages/webchat/src/components/messages/MessageList.tsx
+++ b/packages/webchat/src/components/messages/MessageList.tsx
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class MessageList extends React.Component<MessageListProps, State> {
 
   componentDidMount() {
     observe(this.props.focusedArea!, (focus) => {
-      focus.newValue === 'convo' && this.messagesDiv.focus()
+      focus.newValue === 'convo' && this.messagesDiv?.focus()
     })
   }