diff --git a/resolvers/inbox/messages.py b/resolvers/inbox/messages.py
index de20567f..16cd100d 100644
--- a/resolvers/inbox/messages.py
+++ b/resolvers/inbox/messages.py
@@ -30,9 +30,10 @@ async def create_message(_, info, chat: str, body: str, replyTo=None):
             "id": message_id,
             "author": auth.user_id,
             "body": body,
-            "replyTo": replyTo,
             "createdAt": int(datetime.now(tz=timezone.utc).timestamp()),
         }
+        if replyTo:
+            new_message = int(replyTo)
         chat['updatedAt'] = new_message['createdAt']
         await redis.execute("SET", f"chats/{chat['id']}", json.dumps(chat))
         print(f"[inbox] creating message {new_message}")
diff --git a/schema.graphql b/schema.graphql
index cf589b00..47db95fc 100644
--- a/schema.graphql
+++ b/schema.graphql
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ type Message {
   body: String!
   createdAt: Int!
   id: Int!
-  replyTo: String
+  replyTo: Int
   updatedAt: Int
   seen: Boolean
 }