diff --git a/actions/newmessage.php b/actions/newmessage.php
index e8df595098..0dc37c39c4 100644
--- a/actions/newmessage.php
+++ b/actions/newmessage.php
@@ -89,8 +89,6 @@ class NewmessageAction extends Action {
 										   'method' => 'post',
 										   'action' => $this->self_url()));
 		
-		common_element_start('p');
-		
 		$mutual_users = $user->mutuallySubscribedUsers();
 		
 		$mutual = array();
@@ -108,6 +106,8 @@ class NewmessageAction extends Action {
 						_('User you want to send a message to'), FALSE,
 						$to->id);
 		
+		common_element_start('p');
+		
 		common_element('textarea', array('id' => 'content',
 										 'cols' => 60,
 										 'rows' => 3,