diff --git a/app/controllers/status_messages_controller.rb b/app/controllers/status_messages_controller.rb
index a328f3ddc..c28fd9790 100644
--- a/app/controllers/status_messages_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/status_messages_controller.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class StatusMessagesController < ApplicationController
   # Called when a user clicks "Mention" on a profile page
   # @param person_id [Integer] The id of the person to be mentioned
   def new
-    if params[:person_id] && @person = Person.where(params[:person_id]).first
+    if params[:person_id] && @person = Person.where(:id => params[:person_id]).first
       @aspect = :profile
       @contact = current_user.contact_for(@person)
       @aspects_with_person = []