diff --git a/src/components/structures/RoomDirectory.js b/src/components/structures/RoomDirectory.js
index 53ec5d2d85..90afff5c27 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/RoomDirectory.js
+++ b/src/components/structures/RoomDirectory.js
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                 <div className="mx_RoomDirectory_list">
                     <div className="mx_RoomDirectory_listheader">
                         <DirectorySearchBox
-                            className="mx_RoomDirectory_searchbox" ref={this.collectSearchBox}
+                            className="mx_RoomDirectory_searchbox"
                             onChange={this.onFilterChange} onClear={this.onFilterClear} onJoinClick={this.onJoinClick}
                         />
                         <NetworkDropdown config={this.props.config} onNetworkChange={this.onNetworkChange} />