diff --git a/lib/helpers/extensions/build_event_options.dart b/lib/helpers/extensions/build_event_options.dart
index c8d313e..441e3c4 100644
--- a/lib/helpers/extensions/build_event_options.dart
+++ b/lib/helpers/extensions/build_event_options.dart
@@ -36,15 +36,6 @@ extension BuildEventOptions on Event {
         .watch(PinnedIdsController.provider(roomId))
         .contains(eventId);
 
-    Future<void> sendReaction(String emoji) async {
-      await ref.watch(notifier).sendReaction(emoji, this).onError(showError);
-
-      await ref
-          .read(RecentEmojiController.provider.notifier)
-          .add(emoji)
-          .onError(showError);
-    }
-
     void showReasonDialog({
       required String title,
       required String description,
@@ -116,9 +107,17 @@ extension BuildEventOptions on Event {
                 }.take(4))
                   IconButton(
                     icon: Text(emoji),
-                    onPressed: () {
+                    onPressed: () async {
                       Navigator.of(context).pop();
-                      sendReaction(emoji);
+                      await ref
+                          .watch(notifier)
+                          .sendReaction(emoji, this)
+                          .onError(showError);
+
+                      await ref
+                          .read(RecentEmojiController.provider.notifier)
+                          .add(emoji)
+                          .onError(showError);
                     },
                   ),
                 IconButton(
@@ -133,7 +132,10 @@ extension BuildEventOptions on Event {
                         allowFreeText: true,
                         onSelection: (emoji) {
                           Navigator.of(context).pop();
-                          sendReaction(emoji);
+                          ref
+                              .watch(notifier)
+                              .sendReaction(emoji, this)
+                              .onError(showError);
                         },
                       ),
                     );
diff --git a/lib/widgets/emoji_picker.dart b/lib/widgets/emoji_picker.dart
index a0c691a..453213a 100644
--- a/lib/widgets/emoji_picker.dart
+++ b/lib/widgets/emoji_picker.dart
@@ -21,12 +21,15 @@ class const EmojiPicker({
         .watch(upstream.EmojiController.provider)
         .betterWhen(
           data: (categories) => upstream.EmojiPicker(
-            onSelection: (emoji) async {
+            onSelection: (emoji, isFreeText) async {
               await onSelection(emoji);
-              await ref
-                  .watch(RecentEmojiController.provider.notifier)
-                  .add(emoji)
-                  .onError(showError);
+
+              if (!isFreeText) {
+                await ref
+                    .watch(RecentEmojiController.provider.notifier)
+                    .add(emoji)
+                    .onError(showError);
+              }
             },
             allowFreeText: allowFreeText,
             prependCategories: .new([
diff --git a/pubspec.lock b/pubspec.lock
index 88f6306..a0e58e4 100644
--- a/pubspec.lock
+++ b/pubspec.lock
@@ -898,10 +898,10 @@ packages:
     dependency: "direct main"
     description:
       name: material_emoji_picker
-      sha256: "0468b616b9dc837caf31b3c260f26b31f91ddd21fa5125c1521481e037852657"
+      sha256: "738e70a8d2f592be05dd9889037cc6098a63e0d8c48723125848865ab305f138"
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "1.1.2"
+    version: "1.2.0"
   material_ui:
     dependency: "direct main"
     description:
diff --git a/pubspec.yaml b/pubspec.yaml
index ac1ae66..7f99ba3 100644
--- a/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/pubspec.yaml
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ dependencies:
     unifiedpush: 6.2.0
     unifiedpush_storage_shared_preferences: 1.0.0
     flutter_local_notifications: 22.3.1
-    material_emoji_picker: 1.1.2
+    material_emoji_picker: 1.2.0
     xdg_desktop_portal:
         git:
             url: https://github.com/Henry-Hiles/xdg_desktop_portal.dart