diff --git a/app/chat/routes.py b/app/chat/routes.py
index 42d0ae16..738483b9 100644
--- a/app/chat/routes.py
+++ b/app/chat/routes.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ def chat_home(conversation_id=None):
 @login_required
 def new_message(to):
     recipient = User.query.get_or_404(to)
-    if current_user.created_recently() or current_user.reputation < 10 or current_user.banned or not current_user.verified:
+    if current_user.created_recently() or current_user.reputation <= -10 or current_user.banned or not current_user.verified:
         return redirect(url_for('chat.denied'))
     if recipient.has_blocked_user(current_user.id) or current_user.has_blocked_user(recipient.id):
         return redirect(url_for('chat.blocked'))
diff --git a/app/templates/chat/blocked.html b/app/templates/chat/blocked.html
index 93ecd79b..4915d970 100644
--- a/app/templates/chat/blocked.html
+++ b/app/templates/chat/blocked.html
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 {% else %}
     {% extends "base.html" %}
 {% endif %} %}
+{% set active_child = 'chats' %}
 
 {% block app_content %}
 <div class="row">
diff --git a/app/templates/chat/denied.html b/app/templates/chat/denied.html
index 1e492577..394958e0 100644
--- a/app/templates/chat/denied.html
+++ b/app/templates/chat/denied.html
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
     {% extends "base.html" %}
 {% endif %} %}
 {% from 'bootstrap/form.html' import render_form %}
+{% set active_child = 'chats' %}
 
 {% block app_content %}
 <div class="row">
diff --git a/app/templates/chat/empty.html b/app/templates/chat/empty.html
index 70464750..8b8b3161 100644
--- a/app/templates/chat/empty.html
+++ b/app/templates/chat/empty.html
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 {% else %}
     {% extends "base.html" %}
 {% endif %} %}
+{% set active_child = 'chats' %}
 
 {% block app_content %}
 <div class="row">