diff --git a/www/contacts/messenger-ui.js b/www/contacts/messenger-ui.js
index 3847579b9..c8ab4d463 100644
--- a/www/contacts/messenger-ui.js
+++ b/www/contacts/messenger-ui.js
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ define([
 
                 // insert a newline if they're holding either
                 var val = this.value;
-                var start = this.selectionState;
+                var start = this.selectionStart;
                 var end = this.selectionEnd;
 
                 if (![start,end].some(function (x) {