diff --git a/client/dcwebui.js b/client/dcwebui.js
index 0063d9a..ef9367d 100644
--- a/client/dcwebui.js
+++ b/client/dcwebui.js
@@ -498,16 +498,15 @@ var maybeWriterFor = function(username) {
 };
 
 var writerFor = function(username) {
-	var ret = maybeWriterFor(username);
-	
-	if (ret === null) {
-		// create new
-		tabid = tab_new(next_tabid++, username);
-		pm_tabs[username] = tabid;
-		return write(tabid);
+	var ret = maybeWriterFor(username);	
+	if (ret !== null) {
+		return ret; // found
 	}
 	
-	return ret;
+	// create new
+	var tabid = tab_new(next_tabid++, username);
+	pm_tabs[username] = tabid;
+	return write(tabid);
 };
 
 /* */