diff --git a/xmpp/handlers.go b/xmpp/handlers.go
index a1f6d74..a7e3c55 100644
--- a/xmpp/handlers.go
+++ b/xmpp/handlers.go
@@ -420,7 +420,9 @@ func handleMUCPresence(s xmpp.Sender, p stanza.Presence) {
 				return
 			}
 
-			reply := stanza.Presence{Attrs: stanza.Attrs{
+			// separate declaration is crucial for passing as pointer to defer
+			var reply *stanza.Presence
+			reply = &stanza.Presence{Attrs: stanza.Attrs{
 				From: toBare,
 				To:   p.From,
 				Id:   p.Id,
@@ -428,31 +430,31 @@ func handleMUCPresence(s xmpp.Sender, p stanza.Presence) {
 			defer gateway.ResumableSend(component, reply)
 
 			if nickname == "" {
-				presenceReplySetError(&reply, 400)
+				presenceReplySetError(reply, 400)
 				return
 			}
 
 			chatId, ok := toToID(toBare)
 			if !ok {
-				presenceReplySetError(&reply, 404)
+				presenceReplySetError(reply, 404)
 				return
 			}
 
 			fromBare, _, ok := gateway.SplitJID(p.From)
 			if !ok {
-				presenceReplySetError(&reply, 400)
+				presenceReplySetError(reply, 400)
 				return
 			}
 
 			session, ok := sessions[fromBare]
 			if !ok || !session.Session.MUC {
-				presenceReplySetError(&reply, 401)
+				presenceReplySetError(reply, 401)
 				return
 			}
 
 			chat, _, err := session.GetContactByID(chatId, nil)
 			if err != nil || !session.IsGroup(chat) {
-				presenceReplySetError(&reply, 404)
+				presenceReplySetError(reply, 404)
 				return
 			}