diff --git a/static/js/compose_actions.js b/static/js/compose_actions.js
index 0cec1dbc55..7ed1eb8cbb 100644
--- a/static/js/compose_actions.js
+++ b/static/js/compose_actions.js
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ exports.respond_to_message = function (opts) {
     var topic = '';
     if (message.type === "stream") {
         stream = message.stream;
-        topic = util.get_topic(message);
+        topic = util.get_message_topic(message);
     }
 
     var pm_recipient = message.reply_to;
diff --git a/static/js/util.js b/static/js/util.js
index c87a6f057f..5597ac5ca5 100644
--- a/static/js/util.js
+++ b/static/js/util.js
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ exports.set_topic = function (obj, topic) {
     obj.subject = topic;
 };
 
-exports.get_topic = function (obj) {
+exports.get_message_topic = function (obj) {
     return obj.subject;
 };