diff --git a/r2/r2/templates/message.compact b/r2/r2/templates/message.compact
index b77cf6f32..0de9130d4 100644
--- a/r2/r2/templates/message.compact
+++ b/r2/r2/templates/message.compact
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
        %else:
          <span class="correspondent rounded">
            <%
-              corr = thing.author if thing.recipient else thing.to
+              corr = thing.author if thing.user_is_recipient else thing.to
             %>
            ${WrappedUser(corr)}
          </span>