diff --git a/routes/_actions/compose.js b/routes/_actions/compose.js
index 608bf8a..6b5cd40 100644
--- a/routes/_actions/compose.js
+++ b/routes/_actions/compose.js
@@ -77,3 +77,21 @@ export function setReplySpoiler (realm, spoiler) {
     })
   }
 }
+
+const PRIVACY_LEVEL = {
+  'direct': 1,
+  'private': 2,
+  'unlisted': 3,
+  'public': 4
+}
+
+export function setReplyVisibility (realm, replyVisibility) {
+  // return the most private between the user's preferred default privacy
+  // and the privacy of the status they're replying to
+  let verifyCredentials = store.get('currentVerifyCredentials')
+  let defaultVisibility = verifyCredentials.source.privacy
+  let visibility = PRIVACY_LEVEL[replyVisibility] < PRIVACY_LEVEL[defaultVisibility]
+    ? replyVisibility
+    : defaultVisibility
+  store.setComposeData(realm, {postPrivacy: visibility})
+}
diff --git a/routes/_components/compose/ComposeBox.html b/routes/_components/compose/ComposeBox.html
index 4b4e1af..e94a574 100644
--- a/routes/_components/compose/ComposeBox.html
+++ b/routes/_components/compose/ComposeBox.html
@@ -98,17 +98,10 @@
   import { CHAR_LIMIT, POST_PRIVACY_OPTIONS } from '../../_static/statuses'
   import { store } from '../../_store/store'
   import { slide } from 'svelte-transitions'
-  import { postStatus, insertHandleForReply, setReplySpoiler } from '../../_actions/compose'
+  import { postStatus, insertHandleForReply, setReplySpoiler, setReplyVisibility } from '../../_actions/compose'
   import { importDialogs } from '../../_utils/asyncModules'
   import { classname } from '../../_utils/classname'
 
-  const PRIVACY_LEVEL = {
-    'direct': 1,
-    'private': 2,
-    'unlisted': 3,
-    'public': 4
-  }
-
   export default {
     oncreate() {
       let realm = this.get('realm')
@@ -125,6 +118,12 @@
         setReplySpoiler(realm, replySpoiler)
       }
 
+      let replyVisibility = this.get('replyVisibility')
+      if (replyVisibility) {
+        // make sure the visibility is consistent with the replied-to status
+        setReplyVisibility(realm, replyVisibility)
+      }
+
       this.observe('postedStatusForRealm', postedStatusForRealm => {
         if (postedStatusForRealm !== realm) {
           return
@@ -164,16 +163,7 @@
       text: (composeData) => composeData.text || '',
       media: (composeData) => composeData.media || [],
       postPrivacy: (postPrivacyKey) => POST_PRIVACY_OPTIONS.find(_ => _.key === postPrivacyKey),
-      defaultPostPrivacyKey: ($currentVerifyCredentials, replyVisibility) => {
-        let defaultVisibility = $currentVerifyCredentials.source.privacy
-        // return the most private between the user's preferred default privacy
-        // and the privacy of the status they're replying to
-        if (replyVisibility &&
-          PRIVACY_LEVEL[replyVisibility] < PRIVACY_LEVEL[defaultVisibility]) {
-          return replyVisibility
-        }
-        return defaultVisibility
-      },
+      defaultPostPrivacyKey: ($currentVerifyCredentials) => $currentVerifyCredentials.source.privacy,
       postPrivacyKey: (composeData, defaultPostPrivacyKey) => composeData.postPrivacy || defaultPostPrivacyKey,
       textLength: (text) => measureText(text),
       contentWarningLength: (contentWarning) => measureText(contentWarning),