diff --git a/cmd/application.go b/cmd/application.go
index 31a0ce8..b854427 100644
--- a/cmd/application.go
+++ b/cmd/application.go
@@ -119,7 +119,9 @@ func (a *application) onPagesInputCapture(event *tcell.EventKey) *tcell.EventKey
 		a.SetFocus(a.messagesList)
 		return nil
 	case a.cfg.Keys.FocusMessageInput:
-		a.SetFocus(a.messageInput)
+		if !a.messageInput.GetDisabled() {
+			a.SetFocus(a.messageInput)
+		}
 		return nil
 	case a.cfg.Keys.FocusPrevious:
 		a.focusPrevious()
diff --git a/cmd/guilds_tree.go b/cmd/guilds_tree.go
index 77045a3..a127525 100644
--- a/cmd/guilds_tree.go
+++ b/cmd/guilds_tree.go
@@ -189,12 +189,17 @@ func (gt *guildsTree) onSelected(node *tview.TreeNode) {
 		app.messagesList.drawMessages(messages)
 		app.messagesList.ScrollToEnd()
 
-		hasPerm := channel.Type != discord.DirectMessage && channel.Type != discord.GroupDM && !discordState.HasPermissions(channel.ID, discord.PermissionSendMessages)
-		app.messageInput.SetDisabled(hasPerm)
+		hasNoPerm := channel.Type != discord.DirectMessage && channel.Type != discord.GroupDM && !discordState.HasPermissions(channel.ID, discord.PermissionSendMessages)
+		app.messageInput.SetDisabled(hasNoPerm)
+		if hasNoPerm {
+			app.messageInput.SetPlaceholder("You do not have permission to send messages in this channel.")
+		} else {
+			app.messageInput.SetPlaceholder("Message...")
+			app.SetFocus(app.messageInput)
+		}
 
 		gt.selectedChannelID = channel.ID
 		gt.selectedGuildID = channel.GuildID
-		app.SetFocus(app.messageInput)
 	case nil: // Direct messages
 		channels, err := discordState.PrivateChannels()
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/message_input.go b/cmd/message_input.go
index 035a9de..6af4c31 100644
--- a/cmd/message_input.go
+++ b/cmd/message_input.go
@@ -84,6 +84,11 @@ func newMessageInput(cfg *config.Config) *messageInput {
 	b.BottomLeft, b.BottomRight = b.BottomT, b.BottomT
 	mi.mentionsList.SetBorderSet(b)
 
+	mi.TextArea.
+		SetPlaceholder("Select a channel to start chatting").
+		SetPlaceholderStyle(tcell.StyleDefault.Dim(true)).
+		SetDisabled(true)
+
 	return mi
 }