diff --git a/gui/griffon-app/controllers/com/muwire/gui/ChatRoomController.groovy b/gui/griffon-app/controllers/com/muwire/gui/ChatRoomController.groovy
index 2e7de476..c6387d6b 100644
--- a/gui/griffon-app/controllers/com/muwire/gui/ChatRoomController.groovy
+++ b/gui/griffon-app/controllers/com/muwire/gui/ChatRoomController.groovy
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ class ChatRoomController {
     }
     
     void leaveRoom() {
-        if (leftRoom)
+        if (leftRoom || model.privateChat)
             return
         leftRoom = true
         long now = System.currentTimeMillis()