diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/chat/ChatView.java b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/chat/ChatView.java
index 4e862374f..6a6a4be86 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/chat/ChatView.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/chat/ChatView.java
@@ -110,6 +110,11 @@ public class ChatView extends BContainer
     // documentation inherited from interface ChatDisplay
     public void displayMessage (ChatMessage msg)
     {
+        // we may be restricted in the chat types we handle
+        if (!handlesType(msg.localtype)) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         if (msg instanceof UserMessage) {
             UserMessage umsg = (UserMessage) msg;
             if (umsg.localtype == ChatCodes.USER_CHAT_TYPE) {
@@ -149,6 +154,11 @@ public class ChatView extends BContainer
         _text.appendText(text);
     }
 
+    protected boolean handlesType (String localType)
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+
     protected boolean handleInput (String text)
     {
         if (text.length() == 0) {