diff --git a/apps/mesh/src/web/components/chat/tiptap/mention/hooks.ts b/apps/mesh/src/web/components/chat/tiptap/mention/hooks.ts
index cc9f563334..2774292f81 100644
--- a/apps/mesh/src/web/components/chat/tiptap/mention/hooks.ts
+++ b/apps/mesh/src/web/components/chat/tiptap/mention/hooks.ts
@@ -128,12 +128,17 @@ function useMenuNavigation<T>({
   // Attach keyboard listener to editor
   // eslint-disable-next-line ban-use-effect/ban-use-effect
   useEffect(() => {
-    const dom = editor.view.dom;
+    if (editor?.isDestroyed) return undefined;
 
-    // Guard against editor being destroyed
-    if (editor?.isDestroyed || !dom) {
+    let dom: HTMLElement;
+    try {
+      dom = editor.view.dom;
+    } catch {
+      // Editor view not mounted yet (or already torn down). Bail; the effect
+      // will re-run when the editor reference changes.
       return undefined;
     }
+    if (!dom) return undefined;
 
     const handleKeyDown = (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
       const currentItems = itemsRef.current;