diff --git a/ui/lib/com/message.js b/ui/lib/com/message.js
index 30bfa12..d555f0c 100644
--- a/ui/lib/com/message.js
+++ b/ui/lib/com/message.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ var paramap  = require('pull-paramap')
 var mlib = require('ssb-msgs')
 var schemas = require('ssb-msg-schemas')
 var ssbref = require('ssb-ref')
+var pauser = require('pause-offscreen')
 var app = require('../app')
 var ui = require('../ui')
 var modals = require('../ui/modals')
@@ -103,6 +104,10 @@ module.exports = function (msg, opts) {
     msg.el.appendChild(h('.well.text-muted', { style: 'margin: 5px 0 0 88px' }, com.icon('flash'), ' Replies will auto-update in realtime.'))
   }
 
+  // add offscreen pausing
+  var unlistenPauser = pauser(msgEl)
+  ui.onTeardown(unlistenPauser)
+
   return msgEl
 }