diff --git a/Tusker/Views/Status/TimelineStatusTableViewCell.swift b/Tusker/Views/Status/TimelineStatusTableViewCell.swift
index af78f8c0..129f659d 100644
--- a/Tusker/Views/Status/TimelineStatusTableViewCell.swift
+++ b/Tusker/Views/Status/TimelineStatusTableViewCell.swift
@@ -146,7 +146,9 @@ class TimelineStatusTableViewCell: BaseStatusTableViewCell {
             verticalStackToActionsContainerConstraint.isActive = false
         } else {
             actionsContainerView.isHidden = false
-            actionsContainerHeightConstraint.isActive = true
+            // sometimes this constraint is nil for reasons i can't discern
+            // not re-activating in that case doesn't seem to make a difference
+            actionsContainerHeightConstraint?.isActive = true
             verticalStackToSuperviewConstraint.isActive = false
             verticalStackToActionsContainerConstraint.isActive = true
         }