diff --git a/river/Seat.zig b/river/Seat.zig
index 9582313..36d8060 100644
--- a/river/Seat.zig
+++ b/river/Seat.zig
@@ -363,8 +363,7 @@ pub fn enterMode(self: *Self, mode_id: u32) void {
 
     var it = self.status_trackers.first;
     while (it) |node| : (it = node.next) {
-        const seat_status = node.data.seat_status;
-        seat_status.sendMode(server.config.modes.items[mode_id].name);
+        node.data.sendMode(server.config.modes.items[mode_id].name);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/river/SeatStatus.zig b/river/SeatStatus.zig
index d06c7dd..f6fe5dd 100644
--- a/river/SeatStatus.zig
+++ b/river/SeatStatus.zig
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ pub fn init(self: *Self, seat: *Seat, seat_status: *zriver.SeatStatusV1) void {
     seat_status.setHandler(*Self, handleRequest, handleDestroy, self);
 
     // Send all info once on bind
-    seat_status.sendMode(server.config.modes.items[seat.mode_id].name);
+    self.sendMode(server.config.modes.items[seat.mode_id].name);
     self.sendOutput(.focused);
     self.sendFocusedView();
 }
@@ -72,3 +72,9 @@ pub fn sendFocusedView(self: Self) void {
         "";
     self.seat_status.sendFocusedView(title);
 }
+
+pub fn sendMode(self: Self, mode: [*:0]const u8) void {
+    if (self.seat_status.getVersion() >= 3) {
+        self.seat_status.sendMode(mode);
+    }
+}