diff --git a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationActivity.java b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationActivity.java
index 11fb1b0f00..1a88a3e467 100644
--- a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationActivity.java
+++ b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationActivity.java
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends PassphraseRequiredSherlockFragmentActi
   private boolean    isEncryptedConversation;
   private boolean    isAuthenticatedConversation;
   private boolean    isMmsEnabled = true;
+  private boolean    isCharactersLeftViewEnabled;
 
   private CharacterCalculator characterCalculator = new CharacterCalculator();
   private DynamicTheme        dynamicTheme        = new DynamicTheme();
@@ -205,6 +206,7 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends PassphraseRequiredSherlockFragmentActi
     initializeEnabledCheck();
     initializeMmsEnabledCheck();
     initializeIme();
+    initializeCharactersLeftViewEnabledCheck();
     calculateCharactersRemaining();
 
     MessageNotifier.setVisibleThread(threadId);
@@ -635,6 +637,11 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends PassphraseRequiredSherlockFragmentActi
     sendButton.setEnabled(enabled);
   }
 
+  private void initializeCharactersLeftViewEnabledCheck() {
+    isCharactersLeftViewEnabled = !(isPushGroupConversation() ||
+        (TextSecurePreferences.isPushRegistered(this) && !TextSecurePreferences.isSmsFallbackEnabled(this)));
+  }
+
   private void initializeDraftFromDatabase() {
     new AsyncTask<Void, Void, List<Draft>>() {
       @Override
@@ -947,7 +954,7 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends PassphraseRequiredSherlockFragmentActi
   private void calculateCharactersRemaining() {
     int charactersSpent                               = composeText.getText().toString().length();
     CharacterCalculator.CharacterState characterState = characterCalculator.calculateCharacters(charactersSpent);
-    if (characterState.charactersRemaining <= 15 && charactersLeft.getVisibility() != View.VISIBLE) {
+    if (characterState.charactersRemaining <= 15 && charactersLeft.getVisibility() != View.VISIBLE && isCharactersLeftViewEnabled) {
       charactersLeft.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
     } else if (characterState.charactersRemaining > 15 && charactersLeft.getVisibility() != View.GONE) {
       charactersLeft.setVisibility(View.GONE);