diff --git a/indra/newview/app_settings/settings.xml b/indra/newview/app_settings/settings.xml
index 4a586b02af..da3ff2d1ee 100644
--- a/indra/newview/app_settings/settings.xml
+++ b/indra/newview/app_settings/settings.xml
@@ -1639,6 +1639,17 @@
       <key>Value</key>
       <string />
     </map>
+    <key>NearbyChatIsNotTornOff</key>
+    <map>
+      <key>Comment</key>
+      <string>saving torn-off state of the nearby chat between sessions</string>
+      <key>Persist</key>
+      <integer>1</integer>
+      <key>Type</key>
+      <string>Boolean</string>
+      <key>Value</key>
+      <integer>1</integer>
+    </map>
     <key>CloseChatOnReturn</key>
     <map>
       <key>Comment</key>
diff --git a/indra/newview/llimconversation.cpp b/indra/newview/llimconversation.cpp
index c855a844cf..3c6c5c3898 100644
--- a/indra/newview/llimconversation.cpp
+++ b/indra/newview/llimconversation.cpp
@@ -55,12 +55,6 @@ LLIMConversation::LLIMConversation(const LLUUID& session_id)
 {
 	mCommitCallbackRegistrar.add("IMSession.Menu.Action",
 			boost::bind(&LLIMConversation::onIMSessionMenuItemClicked,  this, _2));
-//	mCommitCallbackRegistrar.add("IMSession.ExpCollapseBtn.Click",
-//			boost::bind(&LLIMConversation::onSlide,  this));
-//	mCommitCallbackRegistrar.add("IMSession.CloseBtn.Click",
-//			boost::bind(&LLFloater::onClickClose, this));
-	mCommitCallbackRegistrar.add("IMSession.TearOffBtn.Click",
-			boost::bind(&LLIMConversation::onTearOffClicked, this));
 	mEnableCallbackRegistrar.add("IMSession.Menu.CompactExpandedModes.CheckItem",
 			boost::bind(&LLIMConversation::onIMCompactExpandedMenuItemCheck, this, _2));
 	mEnableCallbackRegistrar.add("IMSession.Menu.ShowModes.CheckItem",
@@ -366,7 +360,7 @@ void LLIMConversation::onClose(bool app_quitting)
 
 void LLIMConversation::onTearOffClicked()
 {
-	onClickTearOff(this);
+	LLFloater::onClickTearOff(this);
 	updateHeaderAndToolbar();
 }
 
diff --git a/indra/newview/llimconversation.h b/indra/newview/llimconversation.h
index 50663137ac..682779a44b 100644
--- a/indra/newview/llimconversation.h
+++ b/indra/newview/llimconversation.h
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ protected:
 	bool onIMShowModesMenuItemCheck(const LLSD& userdata);
 	bool onIMShowModesMenuItemEnable(const LLSD& userdata);
 	static void onSlide(LLIMConversation *self);
-	void onTearOffClicked();
+	virtual void onTearOffClicked();
 
 	// refresh a visual state of the Call button
 	void updateCallBtnState(bool callIsActive);
diff --git a/indra/newview/llimfloatercontainer.cpp b/indra/newview/llimfloatercontainer.cpp
index 30a77bef98..546eccbd04 100644
--- a/indra/newview/llimfloatercontainer.cpp
+++ b/indra/newview/llimfloatercontainer.cpp
@@ -302,9 +302,8 @@ void LLIMFloaterContainer::setVisible(BOOL visible)
 	if (visible)
 	{
 		// Make sure we have the Nearby Chat present when showing the conversation container
-		LLUUID nearbychat_uuid = LLUUID::null;	// Hacky but true: the session id for nearby chat is always null
-		LLFloater* floaterp = findConversationItem(nearbychat_uuid);
-		if (floaterp == NULL)
+		LLFloater* nearby_chat = LLFloaterReg::findInstance("chat_bar");
+		if (nearby_chat == NULL)
 		{
 			// If not found, force the creation of the nearby chat conversation panel
 			// *TODO: find a way to move this to XML as a default panel or something like that
diff --git a/indra/newview/llnearbychat.cpp b/indra/newview/llnearbychat.cpp
index 644304aff3..384762549a 100644
--- a/indra/newview/llnearbychat.cpp
+++ b/indra/newview/llnearbychat.cpp
@@ -345,15 +345,36 @@ void LLNearbyChat::enableDisableCallBtn()
 	getChildView("voice_call_btn")->setEnabled(false /*btn_enabled*/);
 }
 
+void LLNearbyChat::onTearOffClicked()
+{
+	LLIMConversation::onTearOffClicked();
+
+	LLIMFloaterContainer* im_box = LLIMFloaterContainer::getInstance();
+
+	// see CHUI-170: Save torn-off state of the nearby chat between sessions
+	BOOL in_the_multifloater = (getHost() == im_box);
+	gSavedSettings.setBOOL("NearbyChatIsNotTornOff", in_the_multifloater);
+}
+
 void LLNearbyChat::addToHost()
 {
-	if (LLIMConversation::isChatMultiTab())
+	if ( LLIMConversation::isChatMultiTab())
 	{
 		LLIMFloaterContainer* im_box = LLIMFloaterContainer::getInstance();
-
 		if (im_box)
 		{
-			im_box->addFloater(this, FALSE, LLTabContainer::END);
+			if (gSavedSettings.getBOOL("NearbyChatIsNotTornOff"))
+			{
+				im_box->addFloater(this, TRUE, LLTabContainer::END);
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				// setting of the "potential" host: this sequence sets
+				// LLFloater::mHostHandle = NULL (a current host), but
+				// LLFloater::mLastHostHandle = im_box (a "future" host)
+				setHost(im_box);
+				setHost(NULL);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/indra/newview/llnearbychat.h b/indra/newview/llnearbychat.h
index 61404df942..90feb71488 100644
--- a/indra/newview/llnearbychat.h
+++ b/indra/newview/llnearbychat.h
@@ -101,6 +101,8 @@ protected:
 
 	void onToggleNearbyChatPanel();
 
+	/*virtual*/ void onTearOffClicked();
+
 	static LLWString stripChannelNumber(const LLWString &mesg, S32* channel);
 	EChatType processChatTypeTriggers(EChatType type, std::string &str);