diff --git a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/CHANGELOG.md
index 00f8412b..413537fb 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+## Upcoming 
+
+🐞 Fixed
+
+- Fixed `MessageWidget` null errors associated with `channel.memberCount`.
+
 ## 3.2.0
 
 - Updated Dart SDK constraints to `>=2.14.0 <3.0.0`
diff --git a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_widget.dart b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_widget.dart
index f6ae52c6..cd2488c3 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_widget.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_widget.dart
@@ -1230,6 +1230,7 @@ class _MessageWidgetState extends State<MessageWidget>
   Widget _buildSendingIndicator() {
     final style = widget.messageTheme.createdAtStyle;
     final message = widget.message;
+    final memberCount = StreamChannel.of(context).channel.memberCount ?? 0;
 
     if (hasNonUrlAttachments &&
         (message.status == MessageSendingStatus.sending ||
@@ -1260,7 +1261,7 @@ class _MessageWidgetState extends State<MessageWidget>
     if (isMessageRead) {
       child = Row(
         children: [
-          if (StreamChannel.of(context).channel.memberCount! > 2)
+          if (memberCount > 2)
             Text(
               widget.readList!.length.toString(),
               style: style.copyWith(