diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.java
index 75a270045..2f9189a17 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: ChatDirector.java,v 1.30 2002/07/27 01:34:47 ray Exp $
+// $Id: ChatDirector.java,v 1.31 2002/07/27 01:58:57 ray Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.crowd.chat;
 
@@ -68,8 +68,10 @@ public class ChatDirector
      */
     public void setMuteDirector (MuteDirector muter)
     {
-        _muter = muter;
-        addChatValidator(_muter);
+        if (_muter == null) {
+            _muter = muter;
+            _muter.setChatDirector(this);
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -180,6 +182,14 @@ public class ChatDirector
         dispatchMessage(new SystemMessage(xlate(bundle, message), localtype));
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Display the feedback message, translated with the default bundle.
+     */
+    public void displayFeedbackMessage (String message)
+    {
+        displayFeedbackMessage(_bundle, message);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Display a feedback message.
      */
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/MuteDirector.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/MuteDirector.java
index 48589a18d..f368ac3d6 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/MuteDirector.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/MuteDirector.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: MuteDirector.java,v 1.1 2002/06/28 04:09:39 ray Exp $
+// $Id: MuteDirector.java,v 1.2 2002/07/27 01:58:57 ray Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.crowd.chat;
 
@@ -23,6 +23,18 @@ public class MuteDirector
         // nothing to initialize right now
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Set the required ChatDirector.
+     */
+    public void setChatDirector (ChatDirector chatdir)
+    {
+        if (_chatdir == null) {
+            _chatdir = chatdir;
+            _chatdir.addChatValidator(this);
+            _chatdir.setMuteDirector(this);
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Check to see if the specified user is muted.
      */
@@ -53,13 +65,16 @@ public class MuteDirector
     public boolean validateTell (String target, String msg)
     {
         if (isMuted(target)) {
-            // TODO: give user feedback on why the TELL is cancelled
+            _chatdir.displayFeedbackMessage("m.no_tell_mute");
             return false;
         }
 
         return true; // let it go through..
     }
 
+    /** The chat director that we're working hard for. */
+    protected ChatDirector _chatdir;
+
     /** The mutelist. */
     protected HashSet _mutelist = new HashSet();
 }