diff --git a/src/static/js/collab_client.js b/src/static/js/collab_client.js
index e507d6b06..4d010af16 100644
--- a/src/static/js/collab_client.js
+++ b/src/static/js/collab_client.js
@@ -357,10 +357,9 @@ const getCollabClient = (ace2editor, serverVars, initialUserInfo, options, _pad)
   };
 
   const setChannelState = (newChannelState, moreInfo) => {
-    if (newChannelState !== channelState) {
-      channelState = newChannelState;
-      callbacks.onChannelStateChange(channelState, moreInfo);
-    }
+    if (newChannelState === channelState) return;
+    channelState = newChannelState;
+    callbacks.onChannelStateChange(channelState, moreInfo);
   };
 
   const valuesArray = (obj) => {