That seems an upstream empathy bug, https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=662672 (that has mention of similar issues on fedora without using the indicator)
** Bug watch added: GNOME Bug Tracker #662672 https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=662672 ** Changed in: indicator-messages (Ubuntu) Status: Confirmed => Triaged ** Changed in: indicator-messages (Ubuntu) Assignee: Lars Uebernickel (larsu) => (unassigned) ** Package changed: indicator-messages (Ubuntu) => empathy (Ubuntu) ** Also affects: empathy via https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=662672 Importance: Unknown Status: Unknown -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of DX Packages, which is subscribed to indicator-messages in Ubuntu. Matching subscriptions: dx-packages https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1261060 Title: opening an unread message via the indicator makes empathy open an empty window, forgetting the msg Status in Chat app, and Telepathy user interface: Unknown Status in “empathy” package in Ubuntu: Triaged Bug description: Whenever i get a message in empathy (google talk account) and i open the message via the blue indicator symbol, only an empty window opens, swallowing the message, with title (-X unread) See screenshot: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/27087995/ubuntubugs/unread.png desired behaviour: have the message appear in the window ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10 Package: indicator-messages 13.10.1+13.10.20131011-0ubuntu1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.11.0-15.23-generic 3.11.10 Uname: Linux 3.11.0-15-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia ApportVersion: 2.12.5-0ubuntu2.2 Architecture: amd64 Date: Sun Dec 15 02:02:26 2013 InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-12-13 (1 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Release amd64 (20131016.1) MarkForUpload: True SourcePackage: indicator-messages UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/empathy/+bug/1261060/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dx-packages Post to : dx-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dx-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp