diff --git a/plugins/chat/assets/javascripts/discourse/routes/chat.js b/plugins/chat/assets/javascripts/discourse/routes/chat.js
index 4d072303213..863d5d7fc1a 100644
--- a/plugins/chat/assets/javascripts/discourse/routes/chat.js
+++ b/plugins/chat/assets/javascripts/discourse/routes/chat.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { defaultHomepage } from "discourse/lib/utilities";
 import { inject as service } from "@ember/service";
 import { scrollTop } from "discourse/mixins/scroll-top";
 import { schedule } from "@ember/runloop";
+import { DRAFT_CHANNEL_VIEW } from "discourse/plugins/chat/discourse/services/chat";
 
 export default class ChatRoute extends DiscourseRoute {
   @service chat;
@@ -18,14 +19,21 @@ export default class ChatRoute extends DiscourseRoute {
   beforeModel(transition) {
     if (
       transition.from && // don't intercept when directly loading chat
-      this.chatPreferredMode.isDrawer &&
-      transition.intent?.name === "chat.channel" // sidebar can only load a channel
+      this.chatPreferredMode.isDrawer
     ) {
-      transition.abort();
-      const id = transition.intent.contexts[0];
-      return this.chat.getChannelBy("id", id).then((channel) => {
-        this.appEvents.trigger("chat:open-channel", channel);
-      });
+      if (transition.intent?.name === "chat.channel") {
+        transition.abort();
+        const id = transition.intent.contexts[0];
+        return this.chat.getChannelBy("id", id).then((channel) => {
+          this.appEvents.trigger("chat:open-channel", channel);
+        });
+      }
+
+      if (transition.intent?.name === "chat.draft-channel") {
+        transition.abort();
+        this.appEvents.trigger("chat:open-view", DRAFT_CHANNEL_VIEW);
+        return;
+      }
     }
 
     if (!this.chat.userCanChat) {
diff --git a/plugins/chat/spec/system/navigation_spec.rb b/plugins/chat/spec/system/navigation_spec.rb
index 12ca87100d1..5438cebc7d4 100644
--- a/plugins/chat/spec/system/navigation_spec.rb
+++ b/plugins/chat/spec/system/navigation_spec.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Navigation", type: :system, js: true do
   fab!(:category_channel) { Fabricate(:category_channel) }
   fab!(:message) { Fabricate(:chat_message, chat_channel: category_channel) }
   let(:chat_page) { PageObjects::Pages::Chat.new }
+  let(:sidebar_page) { PageObjects::Pages::Sidebar.new }
 
   before do
     # ensures we have one valid registered admin
@@ -125,5 +126,28 @@ RSpec.describe "Navigation", type: :system, js: true do
         )
       end
     end
+
+    context "when starting draft from sidebar with drawer preferred" do
+      it "opens draft in drawer" do
+        visit("/")
+        sidebar_page.start_draft_dm
+
+        expect(page).to have_current_path("/")
+        expect(page).to have_css(".topic-chat-container.expanded.visible")
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "when starting draft from sidebar with full page preferred" do
+      it "opens draft in full page" do
+        visit("/")
+        chat_page.open_from_header
+        chat_page.maximize_drawer
+        visit("/")
+        sidebar_page.start_draft_dm
+
+        expect(page).to have_current_path("/chat/draft-channel")
+        expect(page).not_to have_css(".topic-chat-container.expanded.visible")
+      end
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/plugins/chat/spec/system/page_objects/sidebar/sidebar.rb b/plugins/chat/spec/system/page_objects/sidebar/sidebar.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b9633001c20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/chat/spec/system/page_objects/sidebar/sidebar.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+module PageObjects
+  module Pages
+    class Sidebar < PageObjects::Pages::Base
+      def start_draft_dm
+        find(".sidebar-section-chat-dms .sidebar-section-header-button", visible: false).click
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/plugins/chat/test/javascripts/acceptance/core-sidebar-test.js b/plugins/chat/test/javascripts/acceptance/core-sidebar-test.js
index ea2a709feae..4cf7fa9726e 100644
--- a/plugins/chat/test/javascripts/acceptance/core-sidebar-test.js
+++ b/plugins/chat/test/javascripts/acceptance/core-sidebar-test.js
@@ -5,14 +5,7 @@ import {
   queryAll,
 } from "discourse/tests/helpers/qunit-helpers";
 import { test } from "qunit";
-import {
-  click,
-  currentURL,
-  fillIn,
-  settled,
-  triggerKeyEvent,
-  visit,
-} from "@ember/test-helpers";
+import { click, currentURL, settled, visit } from "@ember/test-helpers";
 import { directMessageChannels } from "discourse/plugins/chat/chat-fixtures";
 import { cloneJSON } from "discourse-common/lib/object";
 import I18n from "I18n";
@@ -421,13 +414,11 @@ acceptance("Discourse Chat - Core Sidebar", function (needs) {
 
   test("Open a new direct conversation", async function (assert) {
     await visit("/");
-
     await click(".sidebar-section-chat-dms .sidebar-section-header-button");
-    assert.ok(exists(".direct-message-creator"));
 
-    await fillIn(".filter-usernames", "hawk");
-    await triggerKeyEvent(".filter-usernames", "keydown", "Enter");
-    assert.strictEqual(currentURL(), "/chat/draft-channel");
+    assert.ok(exists(".direct-message-creator"));
+    assert.ok(exists(".topic-chat-container.expanded.visible"));
+    assert.strictEqual(currentURL(), "/");
   });
 
   test("Escapes public channel titles", async function (assert) {