diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/DrawableChannel.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/DrawableChannel.cs
index b1b91f5fe3..cb7cd03584 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/DrawableChannel.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/DrawableChannel.cs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Linq;
+using JetBrains.Annotations;
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
 using osu.Framework.Bindables;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics;
@@ -132,6 +133,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
             Channel.PendingMessageResolved -= pendingMessageResolved;
         }
 
+        [CanBeNull]
         protected virtual ChatLine CreateChatLine(Message m) => new ChatLine(m);
 
         protected virtual DaySeparator CreateDaySeparator(DateTimeOffset time) => new DaySeparator(time);