diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/ezgame/client/GameControlBackend.as b/src/as/com/threerings/ezgame/client/GameControlBackend.as
index d689346b..54cb125a 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/ezgame/client/GameControlBackend.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/ezgame/client/GameControlBackend.as
@@ -286,7 +286,6 @@ public class GameControlBackend
 
     public function localChat_v1 (msg :String) :void
     {
-        validateConnected();
         validateChat(msg);
         // The sendChat() messages will end up being routed
         // through this method on each client.