diff --git a/cmdJoin.go b/cmdJoin.go
index 013b3e7..0b5b56e 100644
--- a/cmdJoin.go
+++ b/cmdJoin.go
@@ -41,6 +41,12 @@ func cmdJoin(cmd []string) {
 			channel.TopicName = ""
 			channel.MembersType = keybase.USER
 		}
+    if dev {
+        channel.TopicType = "dev"
+    } else {
+        channel.TopicType = "chat"
+    }
+
 		printInfoF("You are joining: $TEXT", config.Colors.Message.LinkKeybase.stylize(joinedName))
 		clearView("Chat")
 		setViewTitle("Input", fmt.Sprintf(" %s ", joinedName))
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 711a122..45d20b8 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ func main() {
 	defer g.Close()
 	g.SetManagerFunc(layout)
 	RunCommand("config", "load")
-	if dev { channel.TopicType = "dev" } else { channel.TopicType = "chat" }
 	go populateList()
 	go updateChatWindow()
 	if len(os.Args) > 1 {