diff --git a/lib/widgets/emoji_picker.dart b/lib/widgets/emoji_picker.dart
index de455c7..bb395f3 100644
--- a/lib/widgets/emoji_picker.dart
+++ b/lib/widgets/emoji_picker.dart
@@ -12,8 +12,10 @@ import "package:nexus/widgets/divider_text.dart";
 import "package:super_sliver_list/super_sliver_list.dart";
 
 final class const EmojiPicker({
-  final IList<EmojiCategory> extraCategories = const IList.empty(),
+  final IList<EmojiCategory> prependCategories = const IList.empty(),
+  final IList<EmojiCategory> appendCategories = const IList.empty(),
   required final FutureOr<void> Function(String value) onSelection,
+  final bool allowFreeText = false,
   super.key,
 }) extends HookConsumerWidget {
   @override
@@ -59,7 +61,9 @@ final class const EmojiPicker({
           .betterWhen(
             data: (categories) {
               final combined = useMemoized(
-                () => categories.addAll(extraCategories),
+                () => prependCategories
+                    .addAll(categories)
+                    .addAll(appendCategories),
               );
 
               return Column(
@@ -70,16 +74,17 @@ final class const EmojiPicker({
                     leading: Icon(Icons.search),
                     onChanged: (value) => search.value = value,
                     trailing: [
-                      IconButton(
-                        onPressed: search.value.isEmpty
-                            ? null
-                            : () async {
-                                Navigator.of(context).pop();
+                      if (allowFreeText)
+                        IconButton(
+                          onPressed: search.value.isEmpty
+                              ? null
+                              : () async {
+                                  Navigator.of(context).pop();
 
-                                await onSelection(search.value);
-                              },
-                        icon: Icon(Icons.send),
-                      ),
+                                  await onSelection(search.value);
+                                },
+                          icon: Icon(Icons.send),
+                        ),
                     ],
                   ),
                   SizedBox(
diff --git a/lib/widgets/room_chat.dart b/lib/widgets/room_chat.dart
index 8db1dcd..9a25274 100644
--- a/lib/widgets/room_chat.dart
+++ b/lib/widgets/room_chat.dart
@@ -247,6 +247,7 @@ final class const RoomChat({
                           onSelection: (value) => notifier
                               .sendReaction(value, event)
                               .onError(showError),
+                          allowFreeText: true,
                         ),
                       );
                     },