diff --git a/browser_ext/background.js b/browser_ext/background.js
index d0e0680f3..85846c7fe 100644
--- a/browser_ext/background.js
+++ b/browser_ext/background.js
@@ -83,6 +83,6 @@ function selectChannel(channelName) {
 
   let port = getPort();
   if (port) {
-    port.postMessage({action: "select", channelName: channelName});
+    port.postMessage({action: "select", type: "twitch", name: channelName});
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/channel.hpp b/src/channel.hpp
index d349eb4c2..0342138f3 100644
--- a/src/channel.hpp
+++ b/src/channel.hpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ class Channel : public std::enable_shared_from_this<Channel>
 public:
     enum Type {
         None,
+        Direct,
         Twitch,
         TwitchWhispers,
         TwitchWatching,
@@ -71,4 +72,55 @@ private:
 
 using ChannelPtr = std::shared_ptr<Channel>;
 
+class IndirectChannel
+{
+    struct Data {
+        ChannelPtr channel;
+        Channel::Type type;
+        pajlada::Signals::NoArgSignal changed;
+
+        Data() = delete;
+        Data(ChannelPtr _channel, Channel::Type _type)
+            : channel(_channel)
+            , type(_type)
+        {
+        }
+    };
+
+    std::shared_ptr<Data> data;
+
+public:
+    IndirectChannel(ChannelPtr channel, Channel::Type type = Channel::None)
+        : data(new Data(channel, type))
+    {
+    }
+
+    ChannelPtr get()
+    {
+        return data->channel;
+    }
+
+    void update(ChannelPtr ptr)
+    {
+        assert(this->data->type != Channel::Direct);
+
+        this->data->channel = ptr;
+        this->data->changed.invoke();
+    }
+
+    pajlada::Signals::NoArgSignal &getChannelChanged()
+    {
+        return this->data->changed;
+    }
+
+    Channel::Type getType()
+    {
+        if (this->data->type == Channel::Direct) {
+            return this->get()->getType();
+        } else {
+            return this->data->type;
+        }
+    }
+};
+
 }  // namespace chatterino
diff --git a/src/providers/twitch/twitchserver.cpp b/src/providers/twitch/twitchserver.cpp
index 581a7bbb3..fb808af6f 100644
--- a/src/providers/twitch/twitchserver.cpp
+++ b/src/providers/twitch/twitchserver.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ namespace twitch {
 TwitchServer::TwitchServer()
     : whispersChannel(new Channel("/whispers", Channel::TwitchWhispers))
     , mentionsChannel(new Channel("/mentions", Channel::TwitchMentions))
-    , watchingChannel(new Channel("/watching", Channel::TwitchWatching))
+    , watchingChannel(Channel::getEmpty(), Channel::TwitchWatching)
 {
     AccountManager::getInstance().Twitch.userChanged.connect([this]() {  //
         util::postToThread([this] { this->connect(); });
diff --git a/src/providers/twitch/twitchserver.hpp b/src/providers/twitch/twitchserver.hpp
index 052c56ea0..d29ed847a 100644
--- a/src/providers/twitch/twitchserver.hpp
+++ b/src/providers/twitch/twitchserver.hpp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public:
 
     const ChannelPtr whispersChannel;
     const ChannelPtr mentionsChannel;
-    const ChannelPtr watchingChannel;
+    IndirectChannel watchingChannel;
 
 protected:
     void initializeConnection(Communi::IrcConnection *connection, bool isRead,
diff --git a/src/singletons/nativemessagingmanager.cpp b/src/singletons/nativemessagingmanager.cpp
index b6b4768a7..f827e3060 100644
--- a/src/singletons/nativemessagingmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/singletons/nativemessagingmanager.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #include "nativemessagingmanager.hpp"
 
+#include "providers/twitch/twitchserver.hpp"
 #include "singletons/pathmanager.hpp"
+#include "util/posttothread.hpp"
 
 #include <QCoreApplication>
 #include <QFile>
@@ -8,11 +10,9 @@
 #include <QJsonObject>
 #include <QJsonValue>
 
-#ifdef BOOSTLIBS
 #include <boost/interprocess/ipc/message_queue.hpp>
 
 namespace ipc = boost::interprocess;
-#endif
 
 #ifdef Q_OS_WIN
 #include <QProcess>
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@ void NativeMessagingManager::registerHost()
 
 void NativeMessagingManager::openGuiMessageQueue()
 {
-#ifdef BOOSTLIBS
     static ReceiverThread thread;
 
     if (thread.isRunning()) {
@@ -89,12 +88,10 @@ void NativeMessagingManager::openGuiMessageQueue()
     }
 
     thread.start();
-#endif
 }
 
 void NativeMessagingManager::sendToGuiProcess(const QByteArray &array)
 {
-#ifdef BOOSTLIBS
     ipc::message_queue messageQueue(ipc::open_or_create, "chatterino_gui", 100, MESSAGE_SIZE);
 
     try {
@@ -102,12 +99,10 @@ void NativeMessagingManager::sendToGuiProcess(const QByteArray &array)
     } catch (ipc::interprocess_exception &ex) {
         qDebug() << "send to gui process:" << ex.what();
     }
-#endif
 }
 
 void NativeMessagingManager::ReceiverThread::run()
 {
-#ifdef BOOSTLIBS
     ipc::message_queue::remove("chatterino_gui");
 
     ipc::message_queue messageQueue(ipc::open_or_create, "chatterino_gui", 100, MESSAGE_SIZE);
@@ -120,19 +115,43 @@ void NativeMessagingManager::ReceiverThread::run()
 
             messageQueue.receive(buf, MESSAGE_SIZE, retSize, priority);
 
-            QJsonDocument document = QJsonDocument::fromRawData(buf, retSize);
+            QJsonDocument document = QJsonDocument::fromJson(QByteArray(buf, retSize));
 
             this->handleMessage(document.object());
         } catch (ipc::interprocess_exception &ex) {
             qDebug() << "received from gui process:" << ex.what();
         }
     }
-#endif
 }
 
 void NativeMessagingManager::ReceiverThread::handleMessage(const QJsonObject &root)
 {
-    // TODO: add code xD
+    QString action = root.value("action").toString();
+
+    if (action.isNull()) {
+        qDebug() << "NM action was null";
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (action == "select") {
+        QString _type = root.value("type").toString();
+        QString name = root.value("name").toString();
+
+        if (_type.isNull() || name.isNull()) {
+            qDebug() << "NM type or name missing";
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (_type == "twitch") {
+            util::postToThread([name] {
+                auto &ts = providers::twitch::TwitchServer::getInstance();
+
+                ts.watchingChannel.update(ts.addChannel(name));
+            });
+        } else {
+            qDebug() << "NM unknown channel type";
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 }  // namespace singletons
diff --git a/src/singletons/windowmanager.cpp b/src/singletons/windowmanager.cpp
index 1c610c997..e91d5d43b 100644
--- a/src/singletons/windowmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/singletons/windowmanager.cpp
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ void WindowManager::save()
 
                 for (widgets::Split *cell : cells) {
                     QJsonObject cell_obj;
-                    cell_obj.insert("channelName", cell->getChannel()->name);
+                    cell_obj.insert("channelName", cell->getChannel().get()->name);
 
                     cells_arr.append(cell_obj);
                 }
diff --git a/src/widgets/helper/channelview.cpp b/src/widgets/helper/channelview.cpp
index 8f80e7a00..5e89545bd 100644
--- a/src/widgets/helper/channelview.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/helper/channelview.cpp
@@ -341,6 +341,7 @@ void ChannelView::setChannel(ChannelPtr newChannel)
     if (this->channel) {
         this->detachChannel();
     }
+
     this->messages.clear();
 
     // on new message
@@ -445,15 +446,10 @@ void ChannelView::setChannel(ChannelPtr newChannel)
 
 void ChannelView::detachChannel()
 {
-    // on message added
-    if (this->messageAppendedConnection.isConnected()) {
-        this->messageAppendedConnection.disconnect();
-    }
-
-    // on message removed
-    if (this->messageRemovedConnection.isConnected()) {
-        this->messageRemovedConnection.disconnect();
-    }
+    messageAppendedConnection.disconnect();
+    messageAddedAtStartConnection.disconnect();
+    messageRemovedConnection.disconnect();
+    messageReplacedConnection.disconnect();
 }
 
 void ChannelView::pause(int msecTimeout)
diff --git a/src/widgets/helper/channelview.hpp b/src/widgets/helper/channelview.hpp
index a86a64659..dff02c039 100644
--- a/src/widgets/helper/channelview.hpp
+++ b/src/widgets/helper/channelview.hpp
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ private:
     pajlada::Signals::Connection layoutConnection;
 
     std::vector<pajlada::Signals::ScopedConnection> managedConnections;
+    std::vector<pajlada::Signals::ScopedConnection> channelConnections;
 
     std::unordered_set<std::shared_ptr<messages::MessageLayout>> messagesOnScreen;
 
diff --git a/src/widgets/helper/splitheader.cpp b/src/widgets/helper/splitheader.cpp
index 28927d88b..677a4dbee 100644
--- a/src/widgets/helper/splitheader.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/helper/splitheader.cpp
@@ -154,14 +154,14 @@ void SplitHeader::scaleChangedEvent(float scale)
 
 void SplitHeader::updateChannelText()
 {
-    const QString channelName = this->split->getChannel()->name;
+    auto channel = this->split->getChannel();
+
+    const QString channelName = channel->name;
     if (channelName.isEmpty()) {
         this->titleLabel->setText("<no channel>");
         return;
     }
 
-    auto channel = this->split->getChannel();
-
     TwitchChannel *twitchChannel = dynamic_cast<TwitchChannel *>(channel.get());
 
     if (twitchChannel != nullptr) {
diff --git a/src/widgets/helper/splitinput.cpp b/src/widgets/helper/splitinput.cpp
index 79cf1e9c2..3569a0d4f 100644
--- a/src/widgets/helper/splitinput.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/helper/splitinput.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ SplitInput::SplitInput(Split *_chatWidget)
 {
     this->initLayout();
 
-    auto completer = new QCompleter(&this->chatWidget->getChannel()->completionModel);
+    auto completer = new QCompleter(&this->chatWidget->getChannel().get()->completionModel);
     this->ui.textEdit->setCompleter(completer);
 
     this->chatWidget->channelChanged.connect([this] {
diff --git a/src/widgets/selectchanneldialog.cpp b/src/widgets/selectchanneldialog.cpp
index fe9f320c3..25517d7e6 100644
--- a/src/widgets/selectchanneldialog.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/selectchanneldialog.cpp
@@ -138,8 +138,10 @@ void SelectChannelDialog::ok()
     this->close();
 }
 
-void SelectChannelDialog::setSelectedChannel(ChannelPtr channel)
+void SelectChannelDialog::setSelectedChannel(IndirectChannel _channel)
 {
+    auto channel = _channel.get();
+
     assert(channel);
 
     this->selectedChannel = channel;
@@ -171,7 +173,7 @@ void SelectChannelDialog::setSelectedChannel(ChannelPtr channel)
     this->_hasSelectedChannel = false;
 }
 
-ChannelPtr SelectChannelDialog::getSelectedChannel() const
+IndirectChannel SelectChannelDialog::getSelectedChannel() const
 {
     if (!this->_hasSelectedChannel) {
         return this->selectedChannel;
diff --git a/src/widgets/selectchanneldialog.hpp b/src/widgets/selectchanneldialog.hpp
index 96b78dec0..a13576e3f 100644
--- a/src/widgets/selectchanneldialog.hpp
+++ b/src/widgets/selectchanneldialog.hpp
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ class SelectChannelDialog : public BaseWindow
 public:
     SelectChannelDialog();
 
-    void setSelectedChannel(ChannelPtr selectedChannel);
-    ChannelPtr getSelectedChannel() const;
+    void setSelectedChannel(IndirectChannel selectedChannel);
+    IndirectChannel getSelectedChannel() const;
     bool hasSeletedChannel() const;
 
     pajlada::Signals::NoArgSignal closed;
diff --git a/src/widgets/split.cpp b/src/widgets/split.cpp
index 96b1061a4..e4117f673 100644
--- a/src/widgets/split.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/split.cpp
@@ -119,28 +119,39 @@ Split::~Split()
 {
     this->usermodeChangedConnection.disconnect();
     this->channelIDChangedConnection.disconnect();
+    this->indirectChannelChangedConnection.disconnect();
 }
 
-ChannelPtr Split::getChannel() const
+IndirectChannel Split::getIndirectChannel()
 {
     return this->channel;
 }
 
-void Split::setChannel(ChannelPtr _newChannel)
+ChannelPtr Split::getChannel()
 {
-    this->view.setChannel(_newChannel);
+    return this->channel.get();
+}
+
+void Split::setChannel(IndirectChannel newChannel)
+{
+    this->view.setChannel(newChannel.get());
 
     this->usermodeChangedConnection.disconnect();
+    this->indirectChannelChangedConnection.disconnect();
 
-    this->channel = _newChannel;
+    this->channel = newChannel;
 
-    TwitchChannel *tc = dynamic_cast<TwitchChannel *>(_newChannel.get());
+    TwitchChannel *tc = dynamic_cast<TwitchChannel *>(newChannel.get().get());
 
     if (tc != nullptr) {
         this->usermodeChangedConnection =
             tc->userStateChanged.connect([this] { this->header.updateModerationModeIcon(); });
     }
 
+    this->indirectChannelChangedConnection = newChannel.getChannelChanged().connect([this] {  //
+        QTimer::singleShot(0, [this] { this->setChannel(this->channel); });
+    });
+
     this->header.updateModerationModeIcon();
     this->header.updateChannelText();
 
@@ -316,7 +327,7 @@ void Split::doClearChat()
 
 void Split::doOpenChannel()
 {
-    ChannelPtr _channel = this->channel;
+    ChannelPtr _channel = this->getChannel();
     TwitchChannel *tc = dynamic_cast<TwitchChannel *>(_channel.get());
 
     if (tc != nullptr) {
@@ -326,7 +337,7 @@ void Split::doOpenChannel()
 
 void Split::doOpenPopupPlayer()
 {
-    ChannelPtr _channel = this->channel;
+    ChannelPtr _channel = this->getChannel();
     TwitchChannel *tc = dynamic_cast<TwitchChannel *>(_channel.get());
 
     if (tc != nullptr) {
@@ -337,7 +348,7 @@ void Split::doOpenPopupPlayer()
 void Split::doOpenStreamlink()
 {
     try {
-        streamlink::Start(this->channel->name);
+        streamlink::Start(this->getChannel()->name);
     } catch (const streamlink::Exception &ex) {
         debug::Log("Error in doOpenStreamlink: {}", ex.what());
     }
@@ -353,7 +364,7 @@ void Split::doOpenViewerList()
                        this->height() - this->header.height() - this->input.height());
     viewerDock->move(0, this->header.height());
 
-    auto accountPopup = new AccountPopupWidget(this->channel);
+    auto accountPopup = new AccountPopupWidget(this->getChannel());
     accountPopup->setAttribute(Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose);
     auto multiWidget = new QWidget(viewerDock);
     auto dockVbox = new QVBoxLayout(viewerDock);
@@ -372,8 +383,8 @@ void Split::doOpenViewerList()
     }
     auto loadingLabel = new QLabel("Loading...");
 
-    util::twitch::get("https://tmi.twitch.tv/group/user/" + channel->name + "/chatters", this,
-                      [=](QJsonObject obj) {
+    util::twitch::get("https://tmi.twitch.tv/group/user/" + this->getChannel()->name + "/chatters",
+                      this, [=](QJsonObject obj) {
                           QJsonObject chattersObj = obj.value("chatters").toObject();
 
                           loadingLabel->hide();
diff --git a/src/widgets/split.hpp b/src/widgets/split.hpp
index f5394117f..871b7169a 100644
--- a/src/widgets/split.hpp
+++ b/src/widgets/split.hpp
@@ -53,8 +53,9 @@ public:
         return this->view;
     }
 
-    ChannelPtr getChannel() const;
-    void setChannel(ChannelPtr newChannel);
+    IndirectChannel getIndirectChannel();
+    ChannelPtr getChannel();
+    void setChannel(IndirectChannel newChannel);
 
     void setFlexSizeX(double x);
     double getFlexSizeX();
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ protected:
 
 private:
     SplitContainer &parentPage;
-    ChannelPtr channel;
+    IndirectChannel channel;
 
     QVBoxLayout vbox;
     SplitHeader header;
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ private:
 
     pajlada::Signals::Connection channelIDChangedConnection;
     pajlada::Signals::Connection usermodeChangedConnection;
+    pajlada::Signals::Connection indirectChannelChangedConnection;
     void doOpenAccountPopupWidget(AccountPopupWidget *widget, QString user);
     void channelNameUpdated(const QString &newChannelName);
     void handleModifiers(QEvent *event, Qt::KeyboardModifiers modifiers);