diff --git a/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/containers/private_chat.py b/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/containers/private_chat.py
index ce76feb1ce8f550fefb6b5bf7da96edf2ad574fd..73699706212feab9f3faa7332497fee95a47343e 100644
--- a/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/containers/private_chat.py
+++ b/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/containers/private_chat.py
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ class PrivateChatContainer(Container):
         private_chat.watch_messages(self._add_message_async)
 
     def _add_message(self, message):
-        message = PrivateMessageWidget(self._contact_name, message)
-        self._messages_box.add(message)
+        message_widget = PrivateMessageWidget(self._contact_name, message)
+        self._messages_box.add(message_widget)
 
     def _add_message_async(self, message):
         GLib.idle_add(self._add_message, message)