diff --git a/Content.Client/Paper/UI/PaperWindow.xaml.cs b/Content.Client/Paper/UI/PaperWindow.xaml.cs
index e270cebc35a..5e070f94dcf 100644
--- a/Content.Client/Paper/UI/PaperWindow.xaml.cs
+++ b/Content.Client/Paper/UI/PaperWindow.xaml.cs
@@ -178,14 +178,22 @@ namespace Content.Client.Paper.UI
         public void Populate(SharedPaperComponent.PaperBoundUserInterfaceState state)
         {
             bool isEditing = state.Mode == SharedPaperComponent.PaperAction.Write;
+            bool wasEditing = InputContainer.Visible;
             InputContainer.Visible = isEditing;
 
             var msg = new FormattedMessage();
             msg.AddMarkupPermissive(state.Text);
 
-            Input.TextRope = Rope.Leaf.Empty;
-            Input.CursorPosition = new TextEdit.CursorPos();
-            Input.InsertAtCursor(msg.ToString());
+            if (!wasEditing)
+            {
+                // We can get repeated messages with state.Mode == Write if another
+                // player opens the UI for reading. In this case, don't update the
+                // text input, as this player is currently writing new text and we
+                // don't want to lose any text they already input.
+                Input.TextRope = Rope.Leaf.Empty;
+                Input.CursorPosition = new TextEdit.CursorPos();
+                Input.InsertAtCursor(msg.ToString());
+            }
 
             for (var i = 0; i <= state.StampedBy.Count * 3 + 1; i++)
             {
diff --git a/Content.Server/Paper/PaperSystem.cs b/Content.Server/Paper/PaperSystem.cs
index eb764f57826..034d6a2643e 100644
--- a/Content.Server/Paper/PaperSystem.cs
+++ b/Content.Server/Paper/PaperSystem.cs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ using Content.Shared.Interaction;
 using Content.Shared.Paper;
 using Content.Shared.Tag;
 using Robust.Server.GameObjects;
+using Robust.Server.Player;
 using Robust.Shared.Player;
 using Robust.Shared.Utility;
 using static Content.Shared.Paper.SharedPaperComponent;
@@ -65,7 +66,11 @@ namespace Content.Server.Paper
         private void BeforeUIOpen(EntityUid uid, PaperComponent paperComp, BeforeActivatableUIOpenEvent args)
         {
             paperComp.Mode = PaperAction.Read;
-            UpdateUserInterface(uid, paperComp);
+
+            if (!TryComp<ActorComponent>(args.User, out var actor))
+                return;
+
+            UpdateUserInterface(uid, paperComp, actor.PlayerSession);
         }
 
         private void OnExamined(EntityUid uid, PaperComponent paperComp, ExaminedEvent args)
@@ -100,8 +105,8 @@ namespace Content.Server.Paper
                     return;
 
                 paperComp.Mode = PaperAction.Write;
-                UpdateUserInterface(uid, paperComp);
-                _uiSystem.GetUiOrNull(uid, PaperUiKey.Key)?.Open(actor.PlayerSession);
+                _uiSystem.TryOpen(uid, PaperUiKey.Key, actor.PlayerSession);
+                UpdateUserInterface(uid, paperComp, actor.PlayerSession);
                 return;
             }
 
@@ -185,12 +190,13 @@ namespace Content.Server.Paper
             _appearance.SetData(uid, PaperVisuals.Status, status, appearance);
         }
 
-        public void UpdateUserInterface(EntityUid uid, PaperComponent? paperComp = null)
+        public void UpdateUserInterface(EntityUid uid, PaperComponent? paperComp = null, IPlayerSession? session = null)
         {
             if (!Resolve(uid, ref paperComp))
                 return;
 
-            _uiSystem.GetUiOrNull(uid, PaperUiKey.Key)?.SetState(new PaperBoundUserInterfaceState(paperComp.Content, paperComp.StampedBy, paperComp.Mode));
+            var state = new PaperBoundUserInterfaceState(paperComp.Content, paperComp.StampedBy, paperComp.Mode);
+            _uiSystem.TrySetUiState(uid, PaperUiKey.Key, state, session);
         }
     }