diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/MainActivity.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/MainActivity.kt
index 18ef32b6..206adc57 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/MainActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/MainActivity.kt
@@ -136,9 +136,10 @@ class MainActivity : SimpleActivity() {
         ensureBackgroundThread {
             val conversations = getConversations()
             runOnUiThread {
-                conversations_list.beVisibleIf(conversations.isNotEmpty())
-                no_conversations_placeholder.beVisibleIf(conversations.isEmpty())
-                no_conversations_placeholder_2.beVisibleIf(conversations.isEmpty())
+                val hasConversations = conversations.isNotEmpty()
+                conversations_list.beVisibleIf(hasConversations)
+                no_conversations_placeholder.beVisibleIf(!hasConversations)
+                no_conversations_placeholder_2.beVisibleIf(!hasConversations)
 
                 ConversationsAdapter(this, conversations, conversations_list, conversations_fastscroller) {
                     Intent(this, ThreadActivity::class.java).apply {
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/ThreadActivity.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/ThreadActivity.kt
index b8ed27bf..86da8d12 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/ThreadActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/ThreadActivity.kt
@@ -9,10 +9,7 @@ import android.net.Uri
 import android.os.Bundle
 import android.provider.Telephony
 import android.text.TextUtils
-import android.view.Gravity
-import android.view.Menu
-import android.view.MenuItem
-import android.view.View
+import android.view.*
 import android.view.inputmethod.EditorInfo
 import android.widget.LinearLayout
 import android.widget.LinearLayout.LayoutParams
@@ -117,6 +114,10 @@ class ThreadActivity : SimpleActivity() {
             setupAdapter()
             runOnUiThread {
                 supportActionBar?.title = participants.getThreadTitle()
+                if (messages.isEmpty()) {
+                    window.setSoftInputMode(WindowManager.LayoutParams.SOFT_INPUT_STATE_ALWAYS_VISIBLE)
+                    thread_type_message.requestFocus()
+                }
             }
         }
         setupButtons()