diff --git a/apps/ssb/tf-message.js b/apps/ssb/tf-message.js
index 92e265142..e7c372cc0 100644
--- a/apps/ssb/tf-message.js
+++ b/apps/ssb/tf-message.js
@@ -221,7 +221,12 @@ class TfMessageElement extends LitElement {
 	}
 
 	async try_decrypt(content) {
-		this.decrypted = JSON.parse(await tfrpc.rpc.try_decrypt(this.whoami, content));
+		let result = await tfrpc.rpc.try_decrypt(this.whoami, content);
+		if (result) {
+			this.decrypted = JSON.parse(result);
+		} else {
+			this.decrypted = false;
+		}
 	}
 
 	render() {
@@ -442,11 +447,13 @@ class TfMessageElement extends LitElement {
 					</div>
 				`);
 			} else if (typeof(this.message.content) == 'string') {
-				if (this.decrypted !== undefined) {
+				if (this.decrypted) {
 					return small_frame(html`<span>🔓</span><pre>${JSON.stringify(this.decrypted, null, 2)}</pre>`);
+				} else if (this.decrypted === undefined) {
+						this.try_decrypt(content);
+						return small_frame(html`<span>🔐</span>`);
 				} else {
-					this.try_decrypt(content);
-					return small_frame(html`<span>🔐</span>`);
+						return small_frame(html`<span>🔒</span>`);
 				}
 			} else {
 				return small_frame(html`<div><b>type</b>: ${content.type}</div>`);