diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/ui/components/modals/hotkeys-modal.tsx b/app/soapbox/features/ui/components/modals/hotkeys-modal.tsx
index 48608047bb..11ec4bad34 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/ui/components/modals/hotkeys-modal.tsx
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/ui/components/modals/hotkeys-modal.tsx
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ const HotkeysModal: React.FC<IHotkeysModal> = ({ onClose }) => {
             </tr>
             <tr>
               <TableCell><Hotkey>n</Hotkey></TableCell>
-              <TableCell><FormattedMessage id='keyboard_shortcuts.compose' defaultMessage='to focus the compose textarea' /></TableCell>
+              <TableCell><FormattedMessage id='keyboard_shortcuts.compose' defaultMessage='to open the compose textarea' /></TableCell>
             </tr>
             <tr>
               <TableCell><Hotkey>alt</Hotkey> + <Hotkey>n</Hotkey></TableCell>
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/ui/util/global-hotkeys.tsx b/app/soapbox/features/ui/util/global-hotkeys.tsx
index 6d5bd6eccf..94204feb72 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/ui/util/global-hotkeys.tsx
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/ui/util/global-hotkeys.tsx
@@ -49,12 +49,13 @@ const GlobalHotkeys: React.FC<IGlobalHotkeys> = ({ children, node }) => {
 
   const handleHotkeyNew = (e?: KeyboardEvent) => {
     e?.preventDefault();
-    if (!node.current) return;
 
-    const element = node.current.querySelector('textarea#compose-textarea') as HTMLTextAreaElement;
+    const element = node.current?.querySelector('textarea#compose-textarea') as HTMLTextAreaElement;
 
     if (element) {
       element.focus();
+    } else {
+      dispatch(openModal('COMPOSE'));
     }
   };
 
diff --git a/app/soapbox/locales/en.json b/app/soapbox/locales/en.json
index 619657cf9b..a197af3c9b 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/locales/en.json
+++ b/app/soapbox/locales/en.json
@@ -909,7 +909,7 @@
   "keyboard_shortcuts.back": "to navigate back",
   "keyboard_shortcuts.blocked": "to open blocked users list",
   "keyboard_shortcuts.boost": "to repost",
-  "keyboard_shortcuts.compose": "to focus the compose textarea",
+  "keyboard_shortcuts.compose": "to open the compose textarea",
   "keyboard_shortcuts.down": "to move down in the list",
   "keyboard_shortcuts.enter": "to open post",
   "keyboard_shortcuts.favourite": "to like",