diff --git a/src/js/messaging.js b/src/js/messaging.js
index aa55e0fe7..8fb429213 100644
--- a/src/js/messaging.js
+++ b/src/js/messaging.js
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ const popupDataFromTabId = function(tabId, tabTitle) {
         tabId,
         tabTitle,
         tooltipsDisabled: µbus.tooltipsDisabled,
-        hasUnprocessedRequest: vAPI && vAPI.net.hasUnprocessedRequest(tabId),
+        hasUnprocessedRequest: vAPI.net && vAPI.net.hasUnprocessedRequest(tabId),
     };
 
     if ( µbhs.uiPopupConfig !== 'unset' ) {