diff --git a/ui/colony/src/hooks/useChannelSocket.ts b/ui/colony/src/hooks/useChannelSocket.ts
index 6846f02..df61e8b 100644
--- a/ui/colony/src/hooks/useChannelSocket.ts
+++ b/ui/colony/src/hooks/useChannelSocket.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export function useChannelSocket(
   onMessage: (msg: Message) => void,
 ) {
   const wsRef = useRef<WebSocket | null>(null);
-  const reconnectTimer = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>>();
+  const reconnectTimer = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>(null);
 
   const connect = useCallback(() => {
     if (!channelId) return;
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export function useChannelSocket(
   useEffect(() => {
     connect();
     return () => {
-      clearTimeout(reconnectTimer.current);
+      if (reconnectTimer.current) clearTimeout(reconnectTimer.current);
       wsRef.current?.close();
       wsRef.current = null;
     };